REVERSIBLE VALPROATE-INDUCED EXTRAPYRAMIDAL DISORDERS

We observed transient parkinsonism in 2 young epileptic patients with valproate (VPA) therapy. Complete recovery from extrapyramidal disorder occurred spontaneously in a few weeks. The lack of apparent susceptibility related to age and to VPA dosage, the rapid recovery from the extrapyramidal reaction, and the prevalence of negative signs such as bradykinesia and bradyphrenia can be considered the main clinical findings of this disease process. Pathophysiologic mechanisms of this rare ''toxic'' reaction remain unknown, although a transient imbalance between functionally reciprocal subgroups of GABA pathways leading to remediable dopamine inhibition might be hypothesized.