title: Parameters of metabolic syndrome in Indian children with epilepsy on valproate or phenytoin monotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing among Indian children, who, in general, are more prone to develop metabolic complications at an early age. Valproate and phenytoin are commonly used antiepileptic drugs in children. This study aimed to assess the parameters of the metabolic syndrome in Indian children with epilepsy on valproate or phenytoin monotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study recruited children from the Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children Hospital, New Delhi from March 2012 to September 2012. All consecutive children diagnosed with epilepsy as per International League Against Epilepsy definition aged 3-18 years on valproate or phenytoin monotherapy for at least 6 months were enrolled at a tertiary care children's hospital in Northern India. After clinical and anthropometric evaluation (including body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference), the blood samples were analyzed for fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and serum triglyceride.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with BMI >95(th) centile and waist circumference >90(th) centile were not significantly different among children on valproate and phenytoin monotherapy. Children on valproate had significantly higher mean serum triglyceride (96.9 mg/dL vs. 77.6 mg/dL; P < 0.001) and total cholesterol (148.3 mg/dL vs. 132.8 mg/dL; P = 0.002) levels as compared to children on phenytoin monotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lipid abnormalities may be observed in children on valproate or phenytoin therapy and may warrant periodic screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Suvasini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal, Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Neurology, BL Kapur (BLK) Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, India ; Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Bhanu K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Bhakhri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Satinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aneja
keywords: Cholesterol; metabolic syndrome; pediatric epilepsy; phenytoin; triglycerides; valproate