ABSTRACT

We aimed to determine the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproic acid (VPA) on serum lipid levels in epileptic children.

The study included 30 children with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy, who had been receiving monotherapy with CBZ (n=11) or VPA (n=19) for 2-3 years. A control group of 15 age-matched children was also included. Inclusion criteria in the study and control groups were the absence of any systemic disease or drug use that might affect the serum lipid profile and the absence of a family history of atherosclerotic heart disease. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride were measured and LDL/HDL, TC/HDL ratios were calculated.

Patients on CBZ monotherapy had significantly higher serum levels of TC and HDL compared to controls (p<0.01), TC compared to the VPA group (p<0.05), and LDL compared to both groups (p<0.05). Those on VPA monotherapy exhibited significantly higher HDL levels compared to controls (p<0.05).

Our findings show that CBZ therapy is associated with increases in serum HDL, LDL, and TC levels, while VPA therapy only results in increased HDL levels in epileptic children.

Keywords: Anticonvulsants/adverse effects, carbamazepine/pharmacology/therapeutic use, child; epilepsy/ blood/drug therapy, lipids/blood, lipoproteins/blood, triglycerides/blood, valproic acid/pharmacology/therapeutic use