J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2018 Dec;26(4):269-271. 10.26815/jkcns.2018.26.4.269.

Effects of Anticonvulsant Monotherapy on Bone Mineral Density in Children

• Shin C
• Lee NY
• Han JY
• Yoo IH
• Eom TH
• Bin JH
• Kim YH
• Chung SY
• Lee IG

• KMID: 2437111
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.26815/jkcns.2018.26.4.269

Abstract

PURPOSE
The use of anticonvulsants can cause side effects such as reduction of bone mineral density, requiring attention in growing children. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of different anticonvulsants on bone mineral density in epileptic patients treated with monotherapy.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 60 subjects who visited the Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic of Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2017. Bone mineral density was measured with dual photon absorptiometry every 6 months.
RESULTS
The number of patients treated with oxcarbazepine, valproate and levetiracetam was 31, 16 and 13, respectively. Reduction of bone mineral density was seen in 8 out of 31 patients (25.8%, P=0.10) treated with oxcarbazepine, 9 out of 16 patients treated with valproate (56.3%, P=0.04) and 4 out of 13 patients treated with levetiracetam (30.8%, P=0.50).
CONCLUSION
There was a significant reduction of bone mineral density in patients treated with valproate compared to the other anticonvulsants in our study. We believe attention to bone mineral density is required in children treated with anticonvulsants.

Keyword

Anticonvulsant; Bone Mineral Density

MeSH Terms

Absorptiometry, Photon
Anticonvulsants
Bone Density*
Child*
Epilepsy
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Valproic Acid
Anticonvulsants
Valproic Acid