Carbamazepine as a sole anticonvulsant for partial seizures

The efficacy, serum concentration and side effects of CBZ for partial seizures in children were evaluated. The study was undertaken on 27 patients with partial seizures ranging from 5 to 17 years of age. Further 15 patients with various types of epilepsy taking CBZ with other anticonvulsants were selected as controls to compare the serum levels of CBZ. In nineteen of the 27 patients seizures were controlled completely, in whom serum CBZ levels varied fro trace to 15.6 mcg/ml, average being 8.18 +/- 3.40 mcg/ml, while those of uncontrolled ones ranged from 3.5 to 11.3 mcg/ml, average being 7.50 +/- 2.97 mcg/ml. There was no significant difference between both groups of the above. EEG was improved in the seven of 19 seizure-free cases, serum levels of which ranged from 5.9 to 13.2 mcg/ml. With regard to the side effects, transient leucopenia was observed in four patients and serum GOT and GPT slightly elevated in two. Correlation between dose and serum level in the monotherapy group was not significant as well as in the combined therapy group. Serum DBZ levels in the monotherapy group were significantly higher than those in combined therapy group.