Heath R. Pardoe1, Graeme D. Jackson1, 2
1Brain Research Institute, Florey Neuroscience Institutes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 2Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Medication is the standard treatment option to reduce seizures associated with epilepsy. Although a number of studies have used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the morphometric properties of the epilepsy brain, very few have systematically investigated the relationship between anti-epileptic medication and brain structure. Some studies have reported neuroanatomical changes associated with acute ingestion of sodium valproate, a commonly used anti-epileptic medication. In this study we use morphometric analysis of structral MRI to determine if sodium valproate, administered in clincal doses, has any effect on brain structure.