Lipid profile and thyroid hormone concentrations in children with epilepsy treated with oxcarbazepine monotherapy: A prospective long-term study

Abstract

Background and purpose: To evaluate prospectively the changes and possible associations in lipid and thyroid profiles in children treated with oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy. Methods: Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyrotropin (TSH) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) concentrations were measured in 23 children with epilepsy, before and at 8 and 18months of OXC monotherapy. Results: Total cholesterol was significantly increased at 8months (P=0.033), whereas LDL-C was significantly increased at 8 and 18months (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively) of treatment. Lp(a) was significantly increased at 8months (P=0.042) and borderline significantly increased at 18months (P=0.050) of treatment. FT4 was significantly decreased at 8 and 18months (P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively), and TSH levels were significantly increased at 8 and 18months (P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively) of OXC monotherapy. GGT levels were significantly increased at 8 and 18months (P<0.001) of treatment. There were no significant alterations in HDL-C, TGs and FT3 levels during the study. Significant positive correlations were found between GGT and LDL-C levels at 8 (r=0.468, P=0.024) and 18months (r=0.498, P=0.016), and between TSH and TC at 18months (r=0.508, P=0.013) of treatment. Conclusions: OXC monotherapy may cause significant and persistent alterations in lipid and thyroid profiles in children with epilepsy. The increase in LDL-C and TC levels may be associated with liver enzymes induction and thyroid dysfunction. Further long-term prospective studies are required to confirm these findings and to determine their clinical significance. © 2013 EFNS.