EFFECTS OF CARBAMAZEPINE ON AUDITORY BRAIN-STEM RESPONSE, MIDDLE-LATENCY RESPONSE, AND SLOW CORTICAL POTENTIAL IN EPILEPTIC PATIENTS

Auditory brainstem responses, middle-latency responses, and slow corti cal potentials (ABRs, MLRs, SCPs) were recorded in 21 epileptic patien ts before and during treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ). The peak-late ncies, interpeak intervals, and amplitudes were estimated and evaluate d statistically. CBZ monotherapy resulted in prolongation of peak late ncies of ABR waves I, III, and V as well as of interpeak intervals I-I II and I-V. A significant increase in the peak-latencies of MLR compon ents N-a, P-a, and N-b and of interpeak intervals V-P-a and N-a-N-b wa s also observed along with the systematic NaPa amplitude reduction. CB Z also prolonged the peak latencies of SCP components P-1 and N-1. Bas ed on the obtained results, we suggest that CBZ exerts suppressive inf luences both on modally specific (lemniscal) and modally nonspecific ( extralemniscal) auditory structures.