Evaluation of thyroid and parathyroid functions in children receiving long-term carbamazepine therapy.
We studied serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), thyroid hormones (total thyroxine [TT4], free thyroxine [FT4], thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]), parathyroid hormone (PH), and osteocalcine levels in children with epilepsy who had been receiving long-term carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy to determine whether there was any effect of CBZ therapy on these hormones. The study included 18 patients with epilepsy receiving CBZ and 16 healthy age-matched controls. The age ranged from 4-18 years (11.26 +/- 3.59 years) and 4.5-17 years (11.16 +/- 3.13 years) in the study and control group, respectively. The duration of CBZ use was between 10 months-5 years (3.12 +/- 1.09 years). When comparing the results we did not find any significant difference in serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP, osteocalcine and TSH and PH levels between the groups (p >.05). However, serum TT4 and FT4 levels were found to be significantly lower in the study group than those of control group (p <.05). However, we observed no clinical signs of hypothyroidism in all subjects. To these findings we suggest that serum thyroid hormone levels should be monitored in children receiving long-term CBZ therapy.
Caksen
Huseyin
H
Associate Professor in Pediatrics, Yüzüncü Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
Dulger
Haluk
H
Cesur
Yasar
Y
Atas
Bulent
B
Tuncer
Oguz
O
Odabas
Dursun
D
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; D002220:Carbamazepine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013974:Thyroxine; D002118:Calcium