“Differential effects of Lacosamide, Phenytoin and Topiramate on peripheral nerve excitability: An ex vivo electrophysiological study”
In cooperation with the Medical Department of the University Hospital of Thessaloniki we contributed to the completion of the study entitled “Differential effects of Lacosamide, Phenytoin and Topiramate on peripheral nerve excitability: An ex vivo electrophysiological study” providing statistical analysis and counseling services.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 3 pharmacological agents, lacosamide (LMC) in the peripheral nerve excitability compared to phenytoin (PHT) and topiramate (TPM), two acids which act, in part, by stabilizing the rapid inactivation state of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs).
The variables of our survey were summarized using descriptive statistics and the normality of data distribution was evaluated by the Shapiro-Wilk test since the size of each group was less than or equal to 50. The two-factor variance analysis, using as independent variables time and groups and as a dependent variable the CAP percentage, was used to examine whether there is a statistically significant difference between all pairs of substances.
The study results showed that the factors lacosamide (LMC), phenytoin (PHT) and topiramate (TPM) exert different effects on peripheral nerve excitability. Phenytoin (PHT) inhibited the sciatic nerve CAP even at subtherapeutic levels, and the lacosamide (LMC) was safe in the therapeutic concentration range. Topiramate (TPM) does not affect the CAP even at high supratherapeutic concentrations within the therapeutic range neuroprotective effect was observed. Possible basic mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.