The effect of topiramate on body weight and ghrelin, leptin and neuropeptid y levels of prepubertal children with epilepsy

Background and aim: Weight lost is one of the most frequent side effects of topiramate. The exact mechanism of topiramate on energy balance regulation has not been clearly understood yet. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of topiramate on body mass index, serum glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin and neuropeptide- y levels and the role of these variables on the pathogenesis of weight lost in prepubertal children with epilepsy.Material and Method: Twenty prepubertal epileptic children treated with topiramate enrolled to the study. Body mass index (BMI) and fasting insülin glucose ratio (FIGR) were calculated; serum glucose, insülin, leptin, NPY, ghrelin, cortisol were measured for all subjects before the treatment and at the third and sixth month of the treatmentResults and conclusion: There was a significant decrease in mean BMI, FIGR, and serum cortisol, leptin levels at the third and sixth month of the treatment when compsred with pretreatment levels. No significant changes were observed in serum ghrelin, NPY, insulin levels. These changes are key points of weight lost due to topiramate