Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38691320›Full record

SynthesisCNS drugs2024

Sex Differences in Adverse Effects of Antiseizure Medications in Adults with Epilepsy: A Systematic Review.

Loretta Giuliano, Vania Durante, Giulia Battaglia, Sara Gasparini, Elena Zambrelli, Caterina Ermio, Angela La Neve, Barbara Mostacci, Epilepsy, Gender Commission of the LICE (Italian chapter of the ILAE)

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in CNS drugs, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
16.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Sex and gender-related differences in neurological diseases: current challenges and recommendations for clinical practice.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.

Loretta GiulianoDepartment of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. giuliano.loretta@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-2512-6972
Vania DuranteNeurology Unit, "A. Perrino" Hospital, Brindisi, Italy.
Giulia BattagliaEpilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
Sara GaspariniDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Elena ZambrelliEpilepsy Center, Sleep Medicine Center, Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Caterina ErmioDepartment of Neuroscience, "S. Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital, Lamezia Terme, Catanzaro, Italy.
Angela La NeveDepartment DiBrain, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Barbara MostacciIRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Full Member of the ERN EpiCARE, Bologna, Italy.
Epilepsy, Gender Commission of the LICE (Italian chapter of the ILAE)
Ospedale San Paolo · ITFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta · ITIstituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna · ITMagna Graecia University · ITOspedale A. Perrino · ITUniversity of Bari Aldo Moro · ITUniversity of Catania · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSex differences in epilepsy have been described in prevalence, seizure propensity and response to treatment. Therefore, taking into account sex-based differences in epilepsy is important for both diagnostic purposes and therapeutic considerations. However, little is known about sex differences in adverse effects of antiseizure medications (ASMs).

objectivesWe performed a systematic review searching for sex differences in adverse effects of ASMs in adult persons with epilepsy (PWE) as part of a wider project aimed to assess sex-based differences in efficacy and adverse effects of ASMs in PWE.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive literature search in the PubMed database. The search was conducted with no restriction on publication date, and all results up to April 2020 were included. We included articles written in English, Italian, Spanish, or French that evaluated adverse effects of one or more ASMs in PWE, with specific mention of the two sexes. When appropriate, Newcastle-Ottawa or Jadad scales were used to assess study quality.

resultsOf 5164 identified studies, only 167 considered sex in the analysis and were therefore included. Significant sex-related differences were found in 58 of those studies. We found a consistently higher frequency of cutaneous adverse effects in females; higher risk of developing general adverse effects on different ASMs in females; stronger risk of adverse effects on bone metabolism in females, mainly on treatment with enzyme-inducing ASMs; a concordant higher risk of visual field loss was noted in males on vigabatrin; an overall worse lipid profile in males; as well as higher leptin levels and higher body mass index in females treated with various ASMs.

conclusionsOur analysis has identified some important sex differences in the adverse effects of ASMs. Clinicians should be aware of these differences when informing patients about the risks associated with ASM treatment in PWE.

Indexed as

AnticonvulsantsEpilepsyAdultFemaleHumansMaleSex CharacteristicsSex FactorsAnticonvulsants

Identifiers

PMID38691320
OpenAlexW4396553945

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.