title: Endocrine Effects of Valproate versus Carbamazepine in Males with Epilepsy: A Prospective Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the long-term impact of valproate (VPA) versus carbamazepine (CBZ) on anthropometric, hormonal, and metabolic parameters in young male patients treated for epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 61 boys with newly diagnosed epilepsy followed up, 24 were excluded from analysis (17 were lost to follow-up and 7 changed therapy within <1 year). Findings were compared by time, treatment (VPA or CBZ), and epilepsy type (generalized or partial) as well as against a matched control group with adequately treated hypothyroidism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four boys were treated with VPA and 13 with CBZ. The weight-standard deviation score (SDS) significantly increased during the first 6 months of treatment (p < 0.001), irrespective of the drug type, but decreased between the first and the last visit (p = 0.01). In patients with generalized epilepsy, there was a slight decrease in height- and weight-SDS between the first and the last visit (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). The height-SDS at the last visit was comparable to the parental height-SDS. The mean age at puberty onset was 11.2 and 11.4 years in the study and the control group, respectively (p = 0.08). There were no significant differences in the other parameters by treatment or epilepsy type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term therapy with VPA or CBZ has no significant endocrinological or metabolic adverse effect on male children and adolescents with epilepsy.
authors: Epilepsy Service, National Center for Childhood Diabetes, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors: Hadassa
authors: H
authors: Goldberg-Stern
authors: Tomer
authors: T
authors: Itzhaki
authors: Zohar
authors: Z
authors: Landau
authors: Liat
authors: L
authors: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D013739:Testosterone; D014635:Valproic Acid; D011388:Prolactin