Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39208329›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

An international study to investigate and optimise the safety of discontinuing valproate in young men and women with epilepsy: Protocol.

Gashirai K Mbizvo, Glen P Martin, Matthew Sperrin, Laura J Bonnett, Pieta Schofield, Iain Buchan, Gregory Y H Lip, Anthony G Marson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

8 authors.

Gashirai K MbizvoLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-9588-2944
Glen P MartinFaculty of Biology, Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Matthew SperrinFaculty of Biology, Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Laura J BonnettUniversity of Liverpool Department of Biostatistics, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Pieta SchofieldDepartment of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Iain BuchanDepartment of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-3392-1650
Gregory Y H LipLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-7566-1626
Anthony G MarsonInstitute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Valproate is the most effective treatment for idiopathic generalised epilepsy. Currently, its use is restricted in women of childbearing potential owing to high teratogenicity. Recent evidence extended this risk to men's offspring, prompting recommendations to restrict use in everybody aged <55 years. This study will evaluate mortality and morbidity risks associated with valproate withdrawal by emulating a hypothetical randomised-controlled trial (called a "target trial") using retrospective observational data. The data will be drawn from ~250m mainly US patients in the TriNetX repository and ~60m UK patients in Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). These will be scanned for individuals aged 16-54 years with epilepsy and on valproate who either continued, switched to lamotrigine or levetiracetam, or discontinued valproate between 2014-2024, creating four groups. Randomisation to these groups will be emulated by baseline confounder adjustment using g-methods. Mortality and morbidity outcomes will be assessed and compared between groups over 1-10 years, employing time-to-first-event and recurrent events analyses. A causal prediction model will be developed from these data to aid in predicting the safest alternative antiseizure medications. Together, these findings will optimise informed decision-making about valproate withdrawal and alternative treatment selection, providing immediate and vital information for patients, clinicians and regulators.

Indexed as

AnticonvulsantsEpilepsyValproic AcidAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansLamotrigineLevetiracetamMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAnticonvulsantsLamotrigineLevetiracetamValproic Acid

Identifiers

PMID39208329
PMCPMC11361671

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Registered trials

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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.