[Long-term anticonvulsant therapy and calcium and phosphorus metabolism]

The authors examined 114 epileptic patients who were taking anticonvulsant drugs from different periods of time. Serum and urinary calcium and phosphorus and serum alkaline phosphatase levels have been studied. Roentgenographic researches have been made in order to asses the bone mineral content. Urinary D-glucaric acid excretion as a quantitative index of hepatic enzyme induction has been determined in some subjects. The results show the presence of minor alterations both in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and in bone structure at a subclinical level. These findings suggest the importance of climatic and nutritional factors in the development of bone alterations pointed out by several authors in epileptic patients on long-term anticonvulsant therapy.