title: [Effects of valproate sodium on pituitary gonadotropin in adolescent girls with epilepsy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of valproate sodium (VPA) on the level and axle of pituitary gonadotropin in adolescent girls with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three adolescent girls with epilepsy aged from 8 to 14 years were treated with VPA for 1 year. The levels of serum pituitary gonadotropin including estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and testosterone were measured before treatment and 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin in the children with epilepsy were not significantly different during the 1 year VPA treatment compared with pretreatment. However, the serum level of testosterone was reduced 1 year after treatment (0.4±0.3 ng/mL) compared with pretreatment (0.7±0.4 ng/mL) and 3 months after treatment (0.7±0.4 ng/mL) (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VPA treatment for 1 year does not increase serum levels of androgen in adolescent girls with epilepsy, suggesting that VPA is an ideal choice of treatment for the girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D014635:Valproic Acid