Thyroid function in girls with epilepsy with carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, or valproate monotherapy and after withdrawal of medication.
OBJECTIVE
Antiepileptic drugs may affect the serum thyroid hormone concentrations. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function in 78 girls taking carbamazepine (CBZ), oxcarbazepine (OXC), or valproate (VPA) monotherapy for epilepsy and after withdrawal of the treatment.


METHODS
Forty-one girls taking VPA, 19 taking CBZ, and 18 taking OXC for epilepsy, as well as 54 healthy age-matched controls, aged 8 to 18 years, participated in the study. All the girls were examined clinically, and their pubertal stage was assessed. Blood samples were obtained for thyroid hormone and antibody assays. These examinations were repeated after a mean follow-up of 5.8 years to assess thyroid function, and 64 (82%) of 78 patients and 42 (78%) of 54 controls agreed to participate in the second evaluation.


RESULTS
In the first evaluation, the mean serum thyroid hormone concentrations were lower in the girls taking CBZ [thyroxine (T4), 70.2; SD, 10.9 nM; and free thyroxine (FT4), 11.5; SD, 1.8 pM] or OXC (T4, 74.9; SD, 16.4 nM; and FT4, 11.3; SD, 1.8 pM) than in the control girls (T4, 96.6; SD, 15.1 nM, and FT4, 14.4; SD, 1.5 pM; p < 0.001, all comparisons). However, thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations were normal in the girls taking CBZ or OXC. Sixty-three% of the girls taking CBZ and 67% of the girls taking OXC had serum T4 and/or FT4 levels below the lower limit of the reference range. The VPA-treated girls with epilepsy had normal serum T4 and FT4 concentrations, but slightly increased TSH levels (3.3; SD, 1.5 mU/L; p < 0.01) compared with the control girls (2.5; SD, 1.0 mU/L). Normal serum hormone concentrations were restored in the patients who discontinued the medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Both CBZ and OXC reduce serum thyroid hormone concentrations in girls with epilepsy. Conversely, VPA is associated with normal serum thyroid hormone and increased thyrotropin levels. However, our results suggest that the changes in serum thyroid hormone and thyrotropin levels are reversible after withdrawal of the medication.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Finland. leena.vainionpaa@oulu.fi
Leena K
LK
Vainionpää
Kirsi
K
Mikkonen
Johanna
J
Rättyä
Mikael
M
Knip
Arto J
AJ
Pakarinen
Vilho V
VV
Myllylä
Jouko I T
JI
Isojärvi
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028761:Withholding Treatment; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D013972:Thyrotropin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D013974:Thyroxine; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine