title: Cardiac effects of carbamazepine treatment in childhood epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypotension, bradycardia, and atrioventricular block are well-known cardiovascular effects of carbamazepine (CBZ). However, direct effects of CBZ on ventricular functions have been rarely encountered. We investigated the effect of CBZ on ventricular functions in pediatric patients without previous cardiac disease to determine whether CBZ causes ventricular dysfunction or electrocardiographic changes in therapeutic doses in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study includes 40 patients (31 boys, 9 girls) with epilepsy who had been treated with carbamazepine. Electroencephalography, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cranial imaging were performed on all patients before treatment and were repeated at the end of the third and 12th months of treatment. The systolic and diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall of the left ventricle and the systolic and diastolic diameter of the left ventricle were measured during M-mode investigation. The end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (mL), the stroke volume (mL), fractional shortening (FS), (%) and ejection fraction (EF) (%) measurements were obtained from the computer on the echocardiography device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 1-year follow-up, no electrocardiographic abnormalities were detected. The FS and EF values showing left ventricular function did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBZ seems to be a safe drug in pediatric epileptic patients without any preexisting cardiac disease. We suggest that the risk factors should be defined and followed-up regarding cardiac function when treatment is initiated in groups with risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Dişkapi Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. petekarhan@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arhan
authors.forename: Semsettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayçiçek
authors.forename: Nursel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akaln
authors.forename: Alev
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Gülşen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Köse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine