Serum amylase, pancreatic amylase and lipase concentrations in epileptic children treated with carbamazepine monotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Serum total amylase and lipase activities have been determined in epileptic patients treated with polytherapy using enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant drugs; however, to our knowledge, serum total amylase, pancreatic amylase and lipase activities have not previously been determined in patients receiving carbamazepine monotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate by a prospective, self-controlled method, whether early treatment with carbamazepine monotherapy may alter serum total amylase, pancreatic amylase and lipase concentrations of epileptic children.


METHODS
Serum total amylase, pancreatic amylase and lipase activities have been determined in 18 epileptic children before and at 6 and 12 months of treatment with carbamazepine monotherapy. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activities were also determined.


RESULTS
Serum total amylase concentrations were significantly increased at 6 months of treatment (p=0.034), and serum nonpancreatic amylase concentrations were significantly increased at 6 (p=0.016) and 12 months of treatment (p=0.039), whereas serum pancreatic amylase and lipase concentrations did not significantly change at 6 or 12 months of treatment with carbamazepine monotherapy. Furthermore, serum gamma-glutamyltransferase concentrations were significantly increased at 6 (p=0.000) and 12 months of treatment (p=0.000) with carbamazepine monotherapy. There was no significant correlation between serum nonpancreatic amylase concentrations and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase or carbamazepine concentrations at 6 and 12 months of treatment with carbamazepine monotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that nonpancreatic amylase concentrations may be increased in patients treated with carbamazepine monotherapy. Therefore, measurement of serum pancreatic amylase and lipase concentrations is suggested in epileptic patients receiving carbamazepine monotherapy with symptoms suggesting pancreatic dysfunction, so that unnecessary discontinuing of treatment with carbamazepine should be avoided.
Voudris
Konstantinos A
KA
Department of Neurology, P&A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Thivon and Levadeias St, 115 27, Athens, Greece. kvoudris@otenet.gr
Attilakos
Achilleas
A
Dimou
Stamatia
S
Mastroyianni
Sotiria
S
Katsarou
Eustathia
E
Skardoutsou
Angeliki
A
Garoufi
Anastasia
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D044967:Serum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D002220:Carbamazepine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases