Evaluation of the effect of antiepileptic drugs on serumbiochemical parameters in epilepsy patients

Ekim Cömert, Evaluation of the Effect of Antiepileptic Drugs on Serum Biochemical Parameters in Epilepsy Patients, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Medical Faculty, Neurology Department, Specialty Thesis in Medicine, 2019. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the antiepileptic drugs on serum thyroid function tests and hematologic parameters in epilepsy patients receiving antiepileptic drug treatment. Materials and Procedure: In this study, 300 epilepsy patients who have been treated at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Medical Faculty Hospital neurology outpatient clinic between 01 January 2016 and 30 April 2019; who are over 18 years of age; who have been given at least 6 months of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment and are still using antiepileptic drugs; have been analyzed. Demographic data of the patients, the antiepileptic drugs they used, thyroid function test results before and after AED treatment and hematological parameters in hospital automation system were analysed retrospectively. Results: Of all 300 patients included in the study, 175 (58.3%) were women and 125 (41.7%) were men. Average age was determined as 43.26±17.42 (span 18-87). As a result of the study, a statistically significant increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels compared with pretreatment levels in patients receiving AED treatment was found. A statistically significant increase in the average fT4 levels in patients that are on valproate (VPA), levetiracetam(LEV) and carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy was detected when compared with pretreatment levels, as well. On the other hand, decreases in the average thrombocyte and leukocyte counts after receiving treatment were also statistically significant. Conclusions: It has been shown that antiepileptic drug treatment can change thyroid hormone levels and hematologic parameters; thus routine control of thyroid functions and blood parameters in patients using antiepileptic drugs is a necessity. Keywords: Antiepileptic drugs, Epilepsy, Epileptic seizure, Hematological parametres, Thyroid function tests