Efficacy of Valproic Acid Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection or Severity: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether taking valproic acid (VPA) was protective against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or severity in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: This was a questionnaire study of 150 people who were taking VPA in monotherapy or polytherapy (since the start of the pandemic or longer) and also 150 people who were not taking VPA (since the start of the pandemic), registered in our epilepsy database. The data compared rates of the seropositivity and severity of infection of COVID-19 between the 2 groups. The latter was assessed, by proxy, vis-à-vis rates of hospital admission and intensive care unit admission. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-one patients were studied, including 130 (53.9%) male and 111 (46.1%) female patients. The mean age of the patients was 30.7 ± 11.4 years. The infection rate and severity of COVID-19 did not significantly differ among patients who were taking VPA and those who were not taking VPA (P = 0.587) and (P = 0.648), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, no support was found for the hypothesis of a protective effect of VPA against the infectivity rate of COVID-19. Neither was there any indication of a disease-modulating effect of VPA in people with active COVID-19 infection. Larger, randomized controlled trials would be warranted to substantiate our conclusion.

COVID-19 vaccine-related frequently asked questions (FAQs) by people with epilepsy and carers in Iran; educational video is included.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to inquire the questions and concerns of people with epilepsy (PWE) about COVID-19 vaccines in order to provide a more realistic list of their frequently asked questions (FAQs). METHODS: We surveyed all the consecutive PWE or their care-givers who were referred to our neurology clinics (Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) during January-February 2022. We collected their questions and concerns in relation to COVID vaccines based on a predesigned brief questionnaire. Informed consent to participate in the study was obtained from the participants. RESULTS: In total, 452 people participated in the study; 291 people (64.4%) did not have any questions or concerns with regard to the COVID-19 vaccination. Having any questions or concerns about COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with not being vaccinated. Questions and concerns about the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines [seizure worsening, general adverse effects, long-term effects (e.g., infertility, cognitive dysfunction)] were by far the most common questions by people with epilepsy and their carers. CONCLUSION: Our findings may be used by policy-makers to prepare appropriate educational materials to provide the best targeted and tailored information to people with epilepsy and their carers to convince them of the necessity and safety of COVID-19 vaccination. Such an educational material must include enough information on the associated adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines and should also discuss some other important issues such as indications of these vaccines in special populations and drug-vaccine interactions.