SERUM-LIPIDS IN EPILEPTIC CHILDREN TREATED WITH CARBAMAZEPINE AND VALPROATE

Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-de nsity lipoprotein (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , triglyceride, apolipoproteins Al and B levels were studied in 57 hea lthy children and in 39 children with epilepsy who had been receiving carbamazepine (CBZ) (23 children) for 1.58 +/- 1.10 years or valproic acid (VPA) (16 children) for 1.34 +/- 1.11 years. In patients receivin g CBZ, mean TC level, mean LDL-C level, mean TC/HDL-C ratio and mean L DL-C/HDL-C ratio were significantly higher than controls. None of the mean levels of serum lipids evaluated in patients receiving VPA was si gnificantly different from the corresponding control group mean. Chang es in serum lipids correlated with neither duration of therapy or plas ma antiepileptic levels nor age or gender. Conclusion Our results sugg ested that CBZ, a hepatic enzyme-inducing drug, affects serum lipid st atus. Longterm prospective studies are necessary to determine whether chronic CBZ therapy is a risk factor for atherosclerotic disorders.