title: Effects of levetiracetam monotherapy on sperm parameters and sex hormones: Data from newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epilepsy has an impact on the reproductive system. Males with epilepsy have lower fertility rates, hypo-sexuality and reduced potency compared with the general population. Anti-epileptic drugs and epilepsy itself are thought to be responsible for this reduced fertility. LEV is a second-generation anti-epileptic agent with low incidences of both adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. In this study, we have investigated the effects of LEV treatment on sex hormones and sperm parameters in newly diagnosed epilepsy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 26 males with newly diagnosed epilepsy and introduced LEV monotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they had partial or generalized seizures. We acquired the results of pre- and post-treatment sperm analyses and serum sex hormone levels. We also recorded the maximum dose, daily dose and treatment duration for each individual. Pre- and post-treatment comparisons and correlations between both sperm and sex hormone parameters and both treatment duration and dose were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre- and post-treatment sex hormone levels were not significantly different. The total sperm count, percentage of normal morphology and functional sperm count tested after treatment were significantly lower in both groups compared with pre-treatment values (p<0.05). There was a moderate correlation between daily dose and reduction in functional sperm count (r: 0.41, p: 0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings confirm that LEV treatment of newly diagnosed epilepsy patients decreases sperm parameters without altering sex hormone levels. Our results may guide the choice of anti-epileptic drug treatment among men with epilepsy.
authors: Section of Neurology, Regional Education and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: drmuson16@hotmail.com.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Ceylan
authors: Section of Radiology, Regional Education and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Yalcin
authors: Section of Neurology, Regional Education and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Omer Faruk
authors: OF
authors: Bayraktutan
authors: Section of Neurology, Fevzi Cakmak Military Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Karabulut
authors: Section of Urology, Regional Education and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Ali Rıza
authors: AR
authors: Sonkaya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013076:Sperm Count; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: Epilepsy; Levetiracetam; Sex hormones; Spermiogram