Growth hormone levels in children and adolescents with epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Patients with epilepsy often complain of symptoms that may be caused by disturbances in their hormonal balance. Disturbances in physical growth has been previously described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of epilepsy and/or anti-epileptic drugs on the physical growth of patients with idiopathic epilepsy, as well as on the growth hormone (GH) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) status in those patients.


METHODS
The study comprised 40 children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy on either valproate or carbamazepine. Anthropometric measurements [occipitofrontal circumference, weight, height, body mass index, span, and midarm circumference] were taken. Serum levels of GH before and after provocation with L-dopa and of IGF-1 were assessed. Results were compared to a matched control group.


RESULTS
The height measurements were reduced in patients with epilepsy compared to the controls group. Though weight values were not significantly different, the body mass indices of the patients were significantly higher than controls, especially in patients on valproate therapy. Basal GH levels showed no significantly variation between patients and controls. However, post provocation GH and IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in patients. The type of epilepsy, disease duration, and the degree of seizure control had no significant effect on the studied parameters. In conclusion, physical growth seems to be affected in patients with epilepsy. This may be due to hormonal imbalance as evident by reduced post provocation GH levels and IGF-1 levels in the included group of patients.
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hamed A
HA
El-Khayat
Gamal S
GS
Aly
Hoda Y
HY
Tomoum
Rasha M
RM
Mamdouh
Abdelmalik K
AK
Al-Badani
Essam I
EI
Mohamed
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone