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Antiepileptic drugs and puberty.
A Nalin1, V Galli, V Ciccarone
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Modena, Italy.
Brain & Development
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Children with epilepsy on anti-epileptic drugs show earlier puberty onset. Treated epileptic females had lower estradiol, and males had lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during puberty compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Epilepsy affects children and adolescents.
- Anti-epileptic therapies are standard treatments.
- Pubertal development can be influenced by various factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pubertal development in epileptic children undergoing anti-epileptic therapy.
- To compare pubertal onset and hormone levels between treated epileptic subjects and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Study included 57 epileptic subjects (aged 6-15) on anti-epileptic therapy for ≥2 years.
- Comparison group consisted of healthy volunteers.
- Serum levels of 17-beta-estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured.
Main Results:
- Significantly earlier onset of stage II puberty in both male and female treated epileptics versus controls.
- Lower serum E2 levels in treated epileptic females at stage II puberty.
- Lower serum FSH levels in treated epileptic males at stage II and in both sexes at stage III puberty.
Conclusions:
- Anti-epileptic therapy may influence the timing of pubertal onset in epileptic children.
- Hormonal changes, including E2 and FSH levels, are associated with pubertal development in treated epileptic subjects.