J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2011 Dec;19(3):184-190.

Bone Mineral Density in Ambulatory Epileptic Children with New Antiepileptic Drug Monotherapy

• Ko JH
• Lee GM
• Lee EH
• Chung S

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted for evaluation of the effects of new antiepileptic drugs on bone mineral density in children with epilepsy.
METHODS
The study group consisted of 35 age and gender matched controls and 35 epileptic children taking new antiepileptic drugs: 14 on topiramate, 10 on lamotrigine, and 11 on oxcarbazepine in monotherapy. All patients were treated for more than one year and all were normally ambulatory children. We measured serum levels of calcium, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at lumbar spine regions L1-L4.
RESULTS
Vitamin D levels of the oxcarbazepine group (25-hydroxyvitamin D: 40.3+/-10.5 ng/mL and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D: 57.9+/-15.2 pg/mL) were significantly lower than in controls (44.6+/-11.5 ng/mL, 66.2+/-10.5 pg/mL, P<0.05); however, they did not differ significantly in the topiramate and lamotrigine groups. The bone mineral density value was significantly lower in the oxcarbazepine (L1-L4: 0.73+/-0.11 g/cm2) group, compared with the controls (0.84+/-0.06 g/cm2, P<0.05) or patients taking topiramate or lamotrigine.
CONCLUSION
Monitoring of bone metabolism is recommended for patients treated with new antiepileptic drugs, particularly oxcarbazepine.

Keyword

New antiepileptic drug; Bone mineral density; Topiramate; Lamotrigine; Oxcarbazepine

MeSH Terms

Absorptiometry, Photon
Alkaline Phosphatase
Anticonvulsants
Bone Density
Calcium
Carbamazepine
Child
Fructose
Humans
Spine
Triazines
Vitamin D
Alkaline Phosphatase
Anticonvulsants
Calcium
Carbamazepine
Fructose
Triazines
Vitamin D