title: No effect of long-term valproate therapy on thyroid and parathyroid functions in children.
abstract: In this study, we studied serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, thyroid hormones (total thyroxine, free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone), parathyroid hormone, and osteocalcine levels in children with epilepsy who had been receiving long-term valproate (VPA) therapy in order to determine whether there was any effect of VPA therapy on these hormones. The study included 31 patients with epilepsy receiving VPA and 22 healthy age-matched controls. The age ranged from 15 months to 16 years and 18 months to 17 years in the study and control group, respectively. The duration of VPA use was between 12 months and 5 years (1.93 +/- 1.90 years). When comparing the results, we did not find any significant difference in any of the parameters, including serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcine, and thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels, between the study and control group. We suggest that VPA can safely be used with regard to thyroid and parathyroid dysfunction in childhood epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yüzüncü Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey. huseyincaksen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caksen
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dülger
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cesur
authors.forename: Dursun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Odabaş
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013995:Time; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010758:Phosphorus; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium