title: Effects of carbamazepine therapy on serum sex hormone levels in male patients with epilepsy.
abstract: The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy and epilepsy on sex hormone plasma levels in male patients with epilepsy were evaluated by measuring the levels of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and by calculating the free androgen index (FAI) in 23 male patients with epilepsy receiving CBZ medication, in 18 untreated male patients with epilepsy, and in 19 healthy age-matched control subjects. No significant differences in the mean T or FT levels were found between the three groups, but the CBZ-treated patients had significantly higher SHBG levels and their FAI values and DHEAS concentrations were lower. The LH, FSH, PRL, or E2 levels in CBZ-treated and untreated male patients with epilepsy did not differ from the controls. CBZ monotherapy does not significantly change the serum balance of sex hormones; however, CBZ clearly affects the serum levels of SHBG and DHEAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Isojärvi
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pakarinen
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Myllylä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D002220:Carbamazepine