Hyperandrogenism, postprandial hyperinsulinism and the risk of PCOS in a cross sectional study of women with epilepsy treated with valproate.
Among a sample of 43 women with epilepsy treated for at least 2 years with valproate (n=22) or other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (n=21), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was diagnosed in three women, two of them were treated with valproate. Although the rate of PCOS and of menstrual disturbances, weight body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio as well as fasting blood glucose levels, fasting insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide values was similar in this small sample of women treated with valproate and other AEDs, valproate exposure was associated with higher androgen levels, higher postprandial (pp) insulin and proinsulin levels, as well as lower cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The pronounced increase in pp insulin levels during VPA treatment may indicate an effect of the fatty acid derivate VPA on pancreatic islet cells.
Luef
G
G
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. gerhard.luef@uibk.ac.at
Abraham
I
I
Trinka
E
E
Alge
A
A
Windisch
J
J
Daxenbichler
G
G
Unterberger
I
I
Seppi
K
K
Lechleitner
M
M
Krämer
G
G
Bauer
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid