: Epilepsy is a common neurodegenerative disease with an increasing morbidity. Clinical treatment of epilepsy includes symptomatic treatment, etiological treatment, surgery and prevention. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on serum folate and vitamin B12 in various epileptic patients.
Objectives: we performed a prospective study to compare the serum levels of homocysteine, vitamin B-12 and folic acid before and after 6 months of AEDs in epileptic children treated by sodium valproate & carbamazepine monotherapy.
Subjects& Methods: Serum level of homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid and vitamin B-12 was measured in 30 patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy before& after treatment with AEDs either carbamazepine or sodium valproate monotherapy; and its level was compared to 15 healthy children serving as control group.
Results: The serum homocystiene level in epileptic children was found to be statistically highly significant increased after valproate monotherapy as compared to before treatment. Moreover, a highly significant decrease was observed in the levels of serum folate in epileptic children after valproate monotherapy as compared to before therapy but a non-significant difference was observed in the serum vitamin B-12 levels in epileptic children before & after valproate monotherapy.
The serum homocystiene level in epileptic children was found to be statistically highly significant increased after carbamazipine monotherapy as compared to before treatment. Moreover, a highly significant decrease was observed in the serum levels of folate & vitamin B-12 in epileptic children after carbamazipine monotherapy as compared to before therapy.
Conclusion: AEDs either carbamazepine or sodium valproate monotherapy may cause a significant increase in the serum levels of homocystiene
Recommendation: Epileptic patients under AEDs usage either carbamazepine or sodium valproate monotherapy should be monitored for hyperhomocystienemia & its atherogenic effect due to their effect on the serum levels of folic acid & vitamin B-12 in these patients
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