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Figure 3 | BMC Neurology

Figure 3

From: Clinical outcomes and immune benefits of anti-epileptic drug therapy in HIV/AIDS

Figure 3

Indication, frequency, cumulative exposure and liver toxicity of AEDs. (A) Neuropathic pain represented the most common indication for AED treatment although seizures/epilepsy, mood and movement disorders were other reasons for prescribing AEDs. (B) A similar profile of AED prescription was observed in viremic (open box) or aviremic (filled box) patients. Gabapentin was the most frequently prescribed AED. The use of phenytoin was significantly lower in patients with stable ART regimens. (Chi-square test, *p < 0.05). (C) Cumulative AED dosing for patients receiving AEDs disclosed that gabapentin and valproate showed the highest levels of cumulative drug exposures. Among aviremic patients, the profile of cumulative dosing was similar to patients with detectable viral loads. (D) The frequency of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in aviremic patients with concurrent use of AED did not differ from AED-treated viremic persons. (E) The risks of abnormal LFTs in patients receiving gabapentin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and topiramate were similar in viremic or aviremic patients while the risk of abnormal LFTs were three-times higher in aviremic patients receiving valproate. (F) Severity of hepatotoxicity was categorized based on AIDS clinical trial group (ACTG) guidelines. AED-treated viremic or aviremic patients displayed a similar profile of hepatotoxicity in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). (N.D.: non detectable)

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