A Study of Serum Carnitine Levels in Epileptic Children with Antiepileptic Drugs

Yoon, Young Min; Lee, Joo Taek; Suh, Eun Sook; Kim, Chang Hwi

Abstract

PURPOSE: Epileptic patients under prolonged treatment with anticonvulsants such as valproate tend to have low serum carnitine level. The object of this study is to observe the interrelationship between anticonvulsants and serum carnitine level and its related symptoms.
METHODS
We measured the serum carnitine levels in 31 epileptic patients (18 males, 13 females) receiving diverse antiepileptic drugs and 32 healthy children (20 males, 12 females) using enzymatic cycling method.
RESULTS
1) Among the control group, total, free, and acyl-carnitine in serum were 50.04+/-11.44, 37.42+/-11.13, and 13.98+/-7.49micro mol/L (mean+/-S.D.), respectively, and no significant differences were observed between age and sex. 2) Among 31 patients with treatment, total serum carnitine level and free carnitine level below 2 standard deviation from the mean control value was not observed. 3) Among 31 patients with treatment, total serum carnitine level below 2 standard deviation from the age matched mean control value was not observed. 4) No significant relationship was observed between the serum carnitine level and the dosage, duration and the serum concentration of the antiepileptic drugs. 5) There were no abnormalities in serum AST, ALT levels among the patients treated.
CONCLUSION
Although our study didn't reveal that serum carnitine level can be lowered in patients treated with anticonvulsants such as valproate, many others reported it. So periodic measurement of serum carnitine level before and after treatment with anticonvulsants should be considered.