Assessment of carotid-intima media thickness in patients with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic drugs

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to investigate whether there is an increase in carotid-intima media thickness (C-IMT) in epilepsy patients using antiepileptic drugs when compared to the normal control group and whether there is a difference when we group them as monotherapy and polytherapy. Material and Method: 68 people were included in the prospective cross-sectional study. 38 epilepsy and 30 healthy control groups that were matched in terms of demographic characteristics Results: C-IMT was statistically higher in the epilepsy group (p<0.001). When carotid USG results are analyzed as control, monotherapy, and polytherapy, there was no difference between control and monotherapy, there was statistical significance between the control group and polytherapy (p<0.001), and between monotherapy and polytherapy (p:0.010) Conclusions: According to our study result, polytherapy should be avoided as much as possible, especially in patients with vascular risk factors.