J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  1999 May;6(2):293-298.

The Influence of Valproic acid and Carbamazepine on the Immunologic Status of Children

• Lim BY
• Chae SA
• Yoo BH

Abstract

PURPOSE: Antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy has been reported to induce immunological alterations in epileptic patients. However, despite extensive studies, the accumulated data are not consistent and there is still confusion and controversy over the effects of AEDs on the immune system. This study tries to elucidate the effects of anticonvulsant on some immune parameters, and serum concentration of IgA, IgG, IgM.
METHODS
Thirty pediatric epileptic patients[Group A (n=12) : patients on carbamazepine, Group B (n=10) : patients on valproic acid and Group C (n=8) : patients on carbamazepine and valproic acid] were enrolled in this study and the levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined before treatment and after 10 months of anticonvulsant therapy. Paired t-test was used to evaluate the data. p values<0.05 were considered significant.
RESULTS
The mean serum concentratrions of IgG was elevated in patients receiving anticonvulsants (p<0.05) but mean concentrations of IgA and IgM were not different significantly.
CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrate that anticonvulsants elevate the serum concentrations of IgG level, suggesting that anticonvulsants may increase humoral immunity and decrease the opportunity of infectious disease, thus decreasing the convulsion.

Keyword

Carbamazepine; Valproic acid; Serum immunoglobulin

MeSH Terms

Anticonvulsants
Carbamazepine*
Child*
Communicable Diseases
Humans
Immune System
Immunity, Humoral
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Seizures
Valproic Acid*
Anticonvulsants
Carbamazepine
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Valproic Acid