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Effect of valproic acid monotherapy on Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in humans Epilepsy is a chronical neurological disorder characterised by seizures. Antiepileptic drugs which are used to treat seizures may cause cognitive impairment or other uncertain injury mainly by unknown mechanisms. In our study, we investigated the effects of valproic acid (VPA) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), secreted protein which is accused for increased neuronal excitability and implicated in epileptogenesis. After long-term treatment with VPA (10-15 mg/kg per day) we determinate level of VPA in serum of 15 young children (age 6.1±1.1 years) and in 12 adult persons (age 31.4±11.5 years) by chemoluminescent method. Simultaneously we determinate level of serum BDNF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and these results we compared mutually and with two age appropriate control groups (healthy children and adult). Statistical significance of differences was estimated using the Student\'s t test. The results are expressed as mean±SD. Our results showed significant decrease in BDNF values in children vs. control group (22.55±6.55 ng/mL vs. 26.15±4.23 ng/mL; p<0.05). Adult patients have insignificant decrease (25.79±9.11 ng/mL) vs. control group (26.88±7.51 ng/mL) but significant negative correlation between values of BDNF and level of valproic acid (r=0.48; p < 0.01). Recent results of other authors demonstrate a significant down-regulation of BDNF/trkB protein expression in the brain, until our results showed a different answer of different age groups on BDNF protein during VPA therapy and may contribute to better understanding to mechanism of valproic acid action and their relationship to BDNF in children and adults. Cellular and molecular mechanisms by which BDNF influences excitability and connectivity in adult brain could provide novel concepts and BDNF can be target for anti-epileptogenic therapy. Key words: epilepsy; valproic acid; brain-derived neurotrophic factor
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