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Serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphate levels in epileptic children treated with phenobarbitone
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Insights
Phenobarbitone treatment for ambulatory epileptic children aged 3-12 years did not significantly alter serum calcium, phosphate, or alkaline phosphatase levels over 12 months. These biochemical parameters remained within normal ranges throughout the study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children.
- Antiepileptic drugs can affect mineral and bone metabolism.
- Phenobarbitone is a widely used antiepileptic medication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of phenobarbitone on serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels in ambulatory epileptic children.
- To monitor serum phenobarbitone levels during treatment.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 89 ambulatory epileptic children (3-12 years) with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
- Serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
- Serum phenobarbitone levels were measured at 6 and 12 months.
Main Results:
- Mean serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels remained within normal ranges throughout the 12-month study period.
- No statistically significant differences were observed in these biochemical parameters at the three measurement points (P > 0.05).
- Serum phenobarbitone levels were consistently within the therapeutic range.
Conclusions:
- Phenobarbitone treatment is associated with stable serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels in ambulatory epileptic children over a 12-month period.
- The study suggests phenobarbitone does not adversely affect these key biochemical parameters in this pediatric population.
- Maintaining therapeutic phenobarbitone levels is crucial for seizure control without significant metabolic disturbances.
Abstract:
A longitudinal study to estimate the serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels of 89 ambulatory epileptic children, aged between 3 years and 12 years, and having generalised tonic-clonic seizures, was carried out. None was on any form of medication for the treatment of seizures prior to presentation. Each patient received only phenobarbitone during the period of study. Serum levels of the biochemical parameters were determined at presentation, 6 months and 12 months, while serum phenobarbitone levels were estimated at 6 months and 12 months. Mean serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase of the patients remained within the normal range. Using the paired 't' test, the differences in the levels of the parameters at the three measurements were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Serum phenobarbitone levels remained within the therapeutic range during the period of study. Our results show that over a 12-month period, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase, remain normal in ambulant epileptic children treated with phenobarbitone.