[Anticonvulsive treatment and calcium metabolism]

In 31 children (12 boys and 19 girls), who were treated with at least two anticonvulsants, the calcium metabolism was followed for 2 years. Eight boys and 5 girls (13 cases) showed increased serum calcium and/or alkaline phosphatase values. Administration of vitamin D3 for a period of 3 months resulted only in partial regulation of hypocalcemia in boys, but had no effect whatsoever upon the alkaline phosphatase level. With the boys, the percentage of cases of disturbance of calcium metabolism was higher than with the girls. Roentgenologically detectable changes in long, tubular bones (especially the femur and tibia) could be observed in 6 patients. Among 200 consecutive roentgenograms available to the authors' laboratory, similar pictures were discovered in 3 patients. Two of them were not suffering from epilepsy, while one female patient had been taking antiepileptic drugs for 9 months only. The authors emphasize the importance of making laboratory examinations already before the commencement of antiepliptic medication.