[Characteristics of women with epilepsy who developed polycystic ovary syndrome owing to the therapy with valproate sodium].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of women with epilepsy who developed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) owing to therapy with valproate sodium (VPA).


METHODS
Our study comprised 77 patients on therapy with VPA--20 patients with PCOS and 57 without PCOS (control group). We assessed their epilepsy type, status of seizure control, and mental and physical statuses as well as the starting age, administration period, total dosage, and the highest value of blood concentration of VPA.


RESULTS
As compared with the control group, the PCOS group showed significantly high rates of association with mental retardation, severe physical disabilities, and poor seizure control, and symptomatic generalized epilepsy. However, the starting age, administration period, total dosage, and the highest value of blood concentration of VPA were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Nineteen of the 20 patients with PCOS had characteristically high androstenedione levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated that refractory symptomatic generalized epilepsy, polypharmacy including VPA and severe motor and intellectual disabilities are risk factors of developing PCOS.
Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido Medical Center for Child Health and Rehabilitation, Sapporo, Hokkaido. kminagawa@hokkaido.med.or.jp
Kimio
K
Minagawa
Toshihide
T
Watanabe
Reiki
R
Oyanagi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D000735:Androstenedione; D014635:Valproic Acid