Serum insulin, cortisol, leptin, NPY and galanin levels in epileptic children receiving valproat and oxcarbazepine

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether oxcarbamezapine (OXC) and valproate (VPA) monotherapy causes weigh gain in epileptic children, and if so to elucidate its pathogenesis.Material and methods: A total of 50 children diagnosed to have partial or generalized epilepsy, aged 3-18 years, in Pediatric Neurology Unit of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine were assigned to antiepileptic therapy (OXC: 22, VPA: 28). Serum levels of glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin were assessed before (0th), and 6 and 18.th month of therapy for OXC, and (0th) and 18.th month of therapy for VPA monotherapy. Weight (median deviation), height (median deviation) and body mass index (BMI) of the individual cases were determined before and 6 and 18 month after the therapy.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between Glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, NPY, galanin, weight, height and BMI values of the pre-treatment, and 6 and 18 months after OXC therapy (p>0.05). Whereas, the pre-treatment and 18th months VPA treatment serum leptin, NPY, galanin and weight and BMI values were significantly different (p<0.05). Blood glucose, insulin, cortisol and height values were not significantly different (p>0.05).Conclusion: Our results indicate that OXC therapy do not cause weight gain in children. Children treated with VPA gained weight compared to pretreatment values and in agreement with literature the determined high levels of leptin, NPY and galanin was mediating the VPA induced weight gain.