CHANGES OF SERUM-LIPID PATTERNS DURING LONG-TERM ANTICONVULSIVE TREATMENT

Serum lipids were determined in 97 patients (56 men, 41 women; ages 42 +/- 15 years) undergoing long-term anticonvulsive treatment (longer t han 6 months). The total group showed increased total cholesterol, dec reased high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol, an increased ratio of total to HDL cholesterol, and decreased apolipoprotein Al and B value s compared to population means. Considering males and females separate ly, all differences were significant (P<0.01) in men, whereas in women only the differences in HDL cholesterol, ratio of total to HDL choles terol, and apolipoproteins Al and B reached the level of statistical s ignificance. Considering the different anticonvulsant groups, choleste rol was significantly in-creased only in phenytoin-treated males; HDL cholesterol was significantly lowered and the ratio of total to HDL ch olesterol significantly increased in all groups. Apolipoprotein A1 lev els were significantly decreased in phenytoin-treated females and valp roate-treated patients of both sexes. Apolipoprotein B levels were sig nificantly decreased in all groups except carbamazepine-treated males. Especially in men treated with anticonvulsants these lipid levels may be considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis.