Efficacy of valproic acid monotherapy in rural patients with convulsive epilepsy:An analysis of 195 cases
Objective To investigate the efficacy of valproic acid monotherapy in patients with convulsive epilepsy in several rural areas of Jiangsu Province,China,in 2005-2020.Methods The patients with convulsive epilepsy were given valproic acid monotherapy and follow-up management,and they were analyzed in terms of clinical features,medica-tion dose,drug efficacy,and adverse reactions.Results A total of 195 patients with convulsive epilepsy were enrolled in this study,among whom there were 117 male patients.Among these patients,48.72%were treated with valproate acid at a maximum dose of≤600 mg/d.In this study,193 patients were followed up for 1 year,with a response rate of 74.09%,and 79 patients were followed up for 5 years,with a cumulative response rate increasing to 87.34%.The incidence rate of adverse reactions gradually decreased with the increase in the course of treatment,and there was an increase in the propor-tion of patients with a subjective feeling of improvement in their conditions.Conclusion Valproic acid monotherapy has a marked clinical effect with slight adverse reactions,and thus it can be widely used in the treatment of patients with con-vulsive epilepsy in rural areas.