The Correlation between Old-Generation Antiepileptic Drugs Usage with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Epilepsy Patient

Epilepsy is one of the neurological disorders that quite common, which about 50 million people worldwide affected each year. Most of the epilepsy patients need long-term therapy, and old-generation of antiepileptic is often used as monotherapy. The incidence of atherosclerosis can be estimated by the thickness of tunica intima-media carotid artery. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between long-term usage of old-generation antiepileptic drugs and the carotid intima-media thickness. We conducted a cross-sectional study in DR. M. Djamil Hospital, Padang, between March until August 2018. A total of 26 epilepsy patients were recruited. Those with the cardiovascular risk factor, the subject who did not undergo treatment regulary were excluded. The carotid intima-media thickness was measured by EPIQ7 Ultrasound systems Machine. The relationship between variables was analyzed using Kendall’s tau test b, and p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Most subjects received phenytoin as their regular AED (76.92%), while 4 subjects received Carbamazepine (15.38%) and 1 subject received phenobarbital (3.84%), and the other drugs (3.84%). The mean duration of therapy was 2.88 years. There is no correlation between long-term usage of AEDs and carotid intima-media thickness in epileptic patients (p=0.052). There was no significant correlation between long-term old-generation usage of antiepileptic drug and carotid intima-media thickness