
    no eligible patients were enrolled
  
['autism']
['divalproex sodium']

        Inclusion Criteria:

          1. Male or female patients aged 4 to 10 years.

          2. Diagnosis of with ASD (Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, or pervasive
             developmental disorder (PDD-NOS).

          3. Frequent epileptiform discharges on EEG (defined as spikes, spike wave, and sharp
             waves occurring at greater than 15 events per hour).

          4. Intelligence quotient (IQ) range 40 to 100.

          5. Weight > or = 12.5 kg.

          6. English speaking families

        Exclusion Criteria:

          1. History of epilepsy, known neurogenetic disorder or chromosomal abnormalities with
             high rates of epilepsy (15q duplication syndrome, 16p deletion/duplication syndrome,
             Fragile X, tuberous sclerosis complex), or structural brain lesion (prior stroke,
             migrational defects, brain malformations).

          2. The presence of a severe epileptiform EEG on the sleep EEG referred to as electrical
             status epilepticus in sleep (ESES) in sleep

          3. Previous treatment with divalproex sodium that is any one of the following:

               -  of greater than 6 months duration

               -  within the last 12 months

               -  that was associated with significant side effects leading to termination of
                  treatment

          4. Children who have had general anesthesia within the six months or sedation within 2
             weeks of study enrollment.

          5. Recent (less than two months prior to study entry) initiation of a behavioral therapy
             program or new psychotropic medication, or the plan to change or start a new therapy.

          6. Presence of medical condition, such as carnitine deficiency, urea cycle disorder or
             other metabolic disorder that would be a contraindication to divalproex sodium usage.

          7. Presence of a significant untreated medical problem (obstructive sleep apnea, restless
             legs syndrome, GERD, etc.) which may have significant impact on sleep study measures.

          8. Renal, hepatic, pancreatic, or hematologic dysfunction as evidenced by values above
             upper limits of normal for BUN/creatinine, or values twice the upper limit of normal
             for serum transaminases (ALT/SGPT, AST/SGOT), values twice the upper limit of normal
             for serum lipase and amylase, platelets <80,000 /mcL, WBC<3.0 103 /mcL.

          9. Concomitant use of medication contraindicated with divalproex sodium including
             topiramate, lamotrigine, and drugs that inhibit cytochrome p450 enzymes.

         10. Behavioral management issues (e.g. self-injury, aggressiveness) severe enough to be of
             safety concerns (to subject and/or staff).

         11. Absence of primary care physician.
      