ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of antiepileptic drugs at serum immunoglobulins in epileptic patients who were using carbamazepine and valproic acid comparing.

Sixty epileptic patients (25 males, 35 females; mean age 29.03±12.7; range 15 to 60 years) taking carbamazepine or valproic acid and control group existing of 30 people (21 females, 9 males; mean age 29.27±9.5; range 18 to 60 years) were included at this study. The serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels of the patients and healthy normals were screened.

The average levels of serum IgA and IgM of the patients taking carbamazepine or valproic acid monotherapy were not statistically different from the control group. Serum IgG levels of the patients who were taking valproic acid monotherapy were higher than the patients taking carbamazepine monotherapy and the control group. There was no correlation between the serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels and dosage and the duration of drug consumption.

There was no difference at the levels of immunoglobulins at the patients taking carbamazepine. IgG levels of the valproic acid users were higher and these levels had become evident as the patient got older. The interactions at immunuglobulins caused by antiepileptics might be the reason of recurrant infections, neoplasms and autoimmun diseases. We had concluded that the screening of immunoglobulin levels at patients using antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine or valproic acid during follow up were important.

Keywords: Carbamazepine, epilepsy/drug therapy/immunology, immunoglobulins, Valproic acid