EFFECT OF CARBAMAZEPINE THERAPY ON ERYTHROCYTE AND PLASMA ANTIOXIDANTLEVELS IN CHILDREN WITH BENIGN PARTIAL EPILEPSY

The brain mechanisms underlying epilepsy are not completely understood , although there is evidence that there is increased lipid peroxidatio n in neurological diseases. There also appears to be a membrane abnorm ality in epilepsy. Carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy in epileptic children w ith benign partial epilepsy has significantly increased osmotic fragil ity and lipid peroxidation of their red blood cells (RBC). The present study suggests that long-term CBZ treatment may induce oxidative stre ss in the RBC which results in a compensatory response in antioxidant enzymes.