title: Weight gain in children on oxcarbazepine monotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of the effect of oxcarbazepine (OXC) on body growth of children with epilepsy are rare and their results are controversial. To the contrary, many studies have shown significant weight gain following valproate (VPA) treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the effect of OXC monotherapy on growth patterns of children with epilepsy and compare it with the effect of VPA monotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine otherwise healthy children, aged 3.7-15.9 years, with primary generalized, partial or partial with secondary generalization seizure disorder, were included in the study. Twenty six children were placed on OXC and thirty three on VPA monotherapy. Body weight (BW), height and body mass index (BMI) as well as their standard deviation scores (SDS), were evaluated prior to as well as 8 months post initiation of OXC or VPA therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight months post OXC-treatment, BW, SDS-BW, BMI and SDS-BMI increased significantly. The increase was similar to that observed in the VPA group. An additional 15.4% of children in the OXC group and 21.2% in the VPA group became overweight or obese. The effect of both OXC and VPA therapy on linear growth did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similarly to VPA, OXC monotherapy resulted in a significant weight gain in children with epilepsy. Careful monitoring for excess weight gain along with counseling on adapting a healthy lifestyle should be offered to children on OXC therapy.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: garoufi@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garoufi
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vartzelis
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsentidis
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Rimini 1, 12462, Haidari, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attilakos
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koemtzidou
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kossiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eustathia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katsarou
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soldatou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine
keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Epilepsy; Linear growth; Obesity; Valproate