Delayed bone development in epileptic children assessed by microdensitometer.
Bone development of metacarpal bones was assessed by microdensitometer analysis of hand X-rays from 101 epileptic outpatients. Most of the patients were treated with two or three anticonvulsant drugs; however, 27 patients were treated with only one. A significantly larger number of patients showed a delay in bone development of 2 or more years when compared with either handicapped or normal control children. In epileptic children, physical activity and the duration of anticonvulsant therapy were correlated with bone development. Patients with delayed bone development had reduced levels of serum 25-OH-D (p less than 0.005) and elevated levels of 1,25-(OH)2D (p less than 0.01). Microdensitometer analysis of metacarpal bone radiographs is useful for detecting mild impairment of bone in groups of epileptic children.
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001846:Bone Development; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003720:Densitometry; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects; D011859:Radiography; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D002117:Calcitriol; D002112:Calcifediol; D010634:Phenobarbital