Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Long-term Continuous EEG Monitoring in Small Rodent Models of Human Disease Using the Epoch Wireless Transmitter System
08:43

Long-term Continuous EEG Monitoring in Small Rodent Models of Human Disease Using the Epoch Wireless Transmitter System

Published on: July 21, 2015

Hematologic monitoring in children with epilepsy treated with carbamazepine

O B Evans1, H Gay, A Swisher

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216.

Journal of Child Neurology
|October 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Carbamazepine treatment in children with epilepsy showed no significant hematologic changes overall. Some children developed mild leukopenia and neutropenia, but these were generally not persistent or statistically significant.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Hematology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children.
  • Carbamazepine is a widely used antiepileptic drug.
  • Understanding the hematologic effects of carbamazepine in pediatric populations is crucial for safe treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of carbamazepine on the hematologic system in children with epilepsy.
  • To identify any significant changes in hematologic parameters during a 12-month treatment period.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study monitored 176 children treated with carbamazepine for epilepsy over 12 months.
  • Hematologic parameters including hematocrit, platelet count, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count were assessed.
  • Correlations with carbamazepine blood levels, age, sex, and concomitant medications were examined.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant changes were observed in mean hematocrit or platelet counts in the total study population.
  • A trend towards decline in white blood cell and neutrophil counts was noted at 1, 8, and 12 months, but did not reach statistical significance.
  • While 8.0% and 17.0% of children developed leukopenia and neutropenia respectively during therapy, these were persistent in only 1.7% and 2.8%.

Conclusions:

  • Carbamazepine therapy generally does not cause significant hematologic alterations in children with epilepsy.
  • Mild, transient leukopenia and neutropenia can occur, necessitating monitoring, particularly in children with pre-existing tendencies.
  • Hematologic parameter changes were not correlated with carbamazepine levels, patient demographics, or other drug use.

More Related Videos

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Sampling Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood from Lateral Tail Vein in Rats During EEG Recordings10:46

Sampling Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood from Lateral Tail Vein in Rats During EEG Recordings

Published on: September 1, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Pulse rhythm01:30

Pulse rhythm

Pulse rhythm refers to the pattern of pulsations within specific intervals, offering valuable insights into the regularity or irregularity of the heart's beats as observed through the pattern of pulsation within specific intervals. A regular pulse exhibits a consistent heart rate with uniform waveforms and pulsation force, variations of which can be classified as normal, weak, or bounding.
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers, a class of antiepileptic drugs, regulate the flow of calcium ions within neurons.
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...