Growth and lipid metabolism in girls and young women with epilepsy during pubertal maturation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess growth and the serum lipid profile in girls with epilepsy receiving monotherapy at a mean age of 12.6 years and approximately 6 years later.


METHODS
A population-based cohort of 77 girls with epilepsy and 49 healthy controls participated in this follow-up study including two cross-sectional evaluations (age range, 8-18.5 years on the first evaluation, and 12.5-25.8 years on the second evaluation). Forty of the patients were initially taking valproate (VPA), 19, carbamazepine (CBZ), and 18, oxcarbazepine (OXC). Growth data were compiled, body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and serum total (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were analyzed.


RESULTS
Linear growth and final height did not differ between the patients and the controls. At follow-up, the mean BMI of the patients who were off medication (61%) was similar to that of the controls, whereas the patients initially treated with VPA who were still taking any medication had a higher BMI. On the first evaluation, the patients taking VPA had low serum HDL-C, and those taking CBZ or OXC had high serum TC and LDL-C concentrations. At follow-up, serum lipid levels were similar in the patients off medication and the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither epilepsy nor antiepileptic therapy affects linear growth or final height, but they may have unfavorable effects on body weight and serum lipid concentrations. Lipid-profile impairment seems to be transient if the medication is discontinued. Overweight is common in patients treated with VPA during puberty if epilepsy and medication continue into adulthood.
Mikkonen
Kirsi
K
Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland. kirsi.mikkonen@oulu.fi
Knip
Mikael
M
Pakarinen
Arto J
AJ
Lanning
Peter
P
Isojärvi
Jouko I T
JI
Vainionpää
Leena K
LK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008055:Lipids