The Effect of Valproic Acid on Serum Total Cholesterol Level in Children with Epilepsy

Kim, Young Mi; Kim, Mun Ju; Nam, Sang Ook

Abstract

PURPOSE: Weight gain is a known side effect of valproic acid(VPA), which is associated with change of serum total cholesterol(TC) level. However, there are controversies on the correlation between VPA and serum TC. This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the change of TC level in children with epilepsy on long-term VPA monotherapy and the related factors.
METHODS
Epileptic patients on VPA monotherapy for more than one year were recruited at the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital. The body mass index (BMI) and TC before and after VPA treatment were obtained from all patients. We analyzed the change of serum TC according to dosage of VPA, serum drug level and other clinical data such as gender, age at start of treatment, type of seizure, etiology of seizure, duration of VPA medication and BMI. which could affect the serum TC.
RESULTS
82 children(49 male and 33 female) were included in this study. Mean serum TC of pre- and post-VPA medication was 153.5+/-31.0 mg/dL and 158.1+/-30.2 mg/dL(P>0.05), respectively. There were no clinically significant changes of serum TC level according to dosage of VPA, serum drug level and other clinical data such as gender, age at start of treatment, seizure type, etiology of seizure, duration of VPA medication and BMI(P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that long-term VPA medication does not affect serum TC, and overweight at pre-VPA medication is not a risk factor.