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Limited data compares clinical profiles of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-one mildly demented ambulatory LBD subjects were individually matched by MMSE score with 21 AD subjects and by UPDRS motor score with 21 PD subjects. Matched by age, gender, education, and race, pairs were compared using cognitive, functional, behavioral, and motor measures. LBD group performed worse than PD on axial motor, gait, and balance measures. AD had more amnesia and orientation impairments, but less executive and visuospatial deficits than LBD subjects. LBD group had more sleepiness, cognitive/behavioral fluctuations, hallucinations, and sleep apnea than AD or PD. Axial motor, gait, and balance disturbances correlated with executive, visuospatial, and global cognition deficits. LBD is differentiated from AD and PD by retrieval memory, visuospatial, and executive deficits; axial motor, gait and balance impairments; sleepiness, cognitive/behavioral fluctuations, hallucinations, and sleep apnea.

James W McAuleyBSPharm PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration and Neurology, Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine, The Ohio State UniversityOBJECTIVE:To provide an overview of key pharmacotherapeutic issues in epilepsy for the woman of childbearing potential.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (1966–1997) was done to identify pertinent literature. Chapters in epilepsy textbooks, pregnancy registries, and their respective bibliographies were also evaluated.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All identifiable sources written in English were evaluated.DATA SYNTHESIS:Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder. It is estimated that nearly 1 million American women of childbearing age have epilepsy. There are many women's health issues in epilepsy. These include menstrual cycle influences on seizure activity, contraceptive–antiepileptic drug interactions, pharmacokinetic changes during pregnancy, teratogenicity of antiepileptic drugs, breast-feeding, and quality of life. These issues challenge both the woman with epilepsy and the many healthcare providers involved in her care. This article reviews these issues and makes recommendations. It addresses both the first-generation antiepileptic drugs (phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid) and the newer or second-generation agents (felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine).CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS:Drug interactions between enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs and contraceptives are well documented. Higher doses of oral contraceptives or a second contraceptive method are suggested if epileptic women use an enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drug. Planned pregnancy is highly recommended and counseling before conception is crucial. Prepregnancy counseling should include, but is not limited to, folic acid supplementation, optimal control of seizure activity, monotherapy with the lowest effective antiepileptic drug dose, and medication adherence. Patient information should be provided about the risk of teratogenicity and the importance of prenatal care. Antiepileptic drug dosage adjustments may be necessary and should be based on clinical symptoms, not solely on serum drug concentrations. While the future holds promise for many aforementioned women's issues in epilepsy, many questions remain to be answered.