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Effect of carbamazepine therapy on serum lipids in children with partial epilepsy

Anju Aggarwal1, Vivek Singh, Shweta Batra

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India. aggar_anju@yahoo.com <aggar_anju@yahoo.com>

Pediatric Neurology
|January 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Carbamazepine therapy in children with epilepsy significantly alters serum lipids, increasing atherosclerosis risk. Lipid changes did not correlate with carbamazepine drug levels.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Serum lipid alterations are a known risk factor for atherosclerosis.
  • Antiepileptic drugs are recognized to affect serum lipid profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively investigate the impact of carbamazepine therapy on serum lipids in children with partial epilepsy.
  • To examine the correlation between serum lipid changes and carbamazepine drug levels.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 29 children (age 3-12 years) with partial epilepsy starting carbamazepine.
  • Serum lipid profiles measured at enrollment and 3 months; carbamazepine levels measured at 3 months.

Main Results:

  • Significant increases observed in total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), and triglycerides.
  • Ratios of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL to HDL significantly increased.
  • No significant change in HDL levels; lipid changes did not correlate with carbamazepine levels.

Conclusions:

  • Carbamazepine therapy in pediatric epilepsy patients leads to unfavorable changes in serum lipid profiles.
  • These lipid alterations suggest an increased risk of atherosclerosis in treated children.
  • The observed lipid changes are independent of the serum carbamazepine concentration.

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