title: The effect of anticonvulsant therapy on serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone.
abstract: In 20 female patients treated for 2 to 37 years (mean :12) with anticonvulsant drugs, low serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-D; 6.4 +/- 3.2 ng/ml M +/- SD), relative hypocalcemia (9.2 +/- 0.4 mg/100 ml) and high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH 277 +/- 165 pg/ml) were found compared to an age-matched control group (respectively 8.6 +/- 3.2 ng/ml, 9.6 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml and 183 +/- 95 pg/ml) living in the same psychiatric clinic. A significant negative correlation was found between total duration of treatment and either serum 25-OH-D or serum calcium. After treatment with an oral vitamin D3 supplement (2000 IU/day) for 3 weeks, the serum 25-OH-D levels, although increased, remained lower than normal in the epileptic group and neither hypocalcemia nor their secondary hyperparathyroidism were corrected. These data confirm the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency in patients treated with anticonvulsant drugs resulting in hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism.
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014280:Triglycerides; D014807:Vitamin D; D010758:Phosphorus; D010672:Phenytoin; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium