A prospective randomised trial on the effect of monitoring plasma anticonvulsant levels in epilepsy.

To evaluate whether knowledge of plasma levels of anti-epileptic drugs has an effect on therapeutic outcome, 127 epileptic outpatients were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B). Plasma levels of group A were reported to the treating physician who attempted to keep the plasma levels within the ‘therapeutic range.’ The treating physician was not informed of the results of plasma lavel determinations of group B. Data from 105 patients were available for assessment at the end of the study year. Therapeutic results of groups A and B were not significantly different. The reduction in seizure frequency was associated with an increase in plasma concentrations of the anti-epileptic drugs. Thus, under the conditions of the study, knowledge of plasma levels of anti-epileptic drugs did not further improve therapeutic results.