J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2003 Nov;11(2):249-255.

The Effect and Factors Affecting on Lipid Status of Valproate Therapy in Children with Epilepsy

• Kim ES
• Koh CB
• Bae EJ
• Lee HJ
• Park WI
• Lee KJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: Antiepileptic drugs may alter serum lipid status in epileptic patients. We conducted this study to assess the effect of valproate on serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein(LDL), high-density lipoprotein(HDL), and TC/HDL ratio, and to investigate the factors affecting serum lipid status in children with epilepsy who had been receiving valproate therapy.
METHODS
Thirty epileptic children(16 males, 14 females, mean age 7.4+/-3.3 years) were evaluated for serum lipid status at the onset and the 6, 12 and 24 months of valproate therapy, and were analysed changes and potential factors of affecting changes such as sex, body mass index, valproate concentration, in serum lipid levels during valproate therapy.
RESULTS
TC were significantly lowered during first 12 months of valproate theraphy (P<0.05). LDL were lowered during first 12 months. HDL and TC/HDL ratio were not changed and TG were increased during valproate theraphy but not reach to statistical significance. TC, TG, LDL, and HDL return to pretreatment levels after 24 months of valproate theraphy. TC, LDL, HDL, and TC/HDL ratio changes were not significantly different by sex and initial body mass index, but TG were significantly increased in group of BMI below 20(P<0.05). LDL levels were significantly decreased correlation to serum valproate concentration(r=-0.2915. P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that valproate therapy would not increase a risk for atherosclerotic disorders in adulthood, but weight gain with a metabolic consequence of obesity would increase risk for atherosclerotic disorders in adulthood.

Keyword

Valproate; Lipid status

MeSH Terms

Anticonvulsants
Body Mass Index
Child*
Epilepsy*
Female
Humans
Male
Obesity
Valproic Acid*
Weight Gain
Anticonvulsants
Valproic Acid