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.