ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective was to assess the role of homocysteine in the development of atherosclerosis in common carotid artery in the carbamazepine treated epileptic patients
Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], Karachi. Three hundred individuals, aged 34 +/- 9.5 years were selected and divided into three groups. Each group comprised of 100 subjects labeled as Group-A [control group had healthy individuals], Group-B [newly diagnosed epileptic patients without antiepileptic therapy], Group-C [epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy, which was further subdivided into C-l having epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy less than 1 year n=33, C-ll had epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy 1-2 years n = 33 and C-lll comprised of epileptic patients on Carbamazepine therapy more than 2 years n = 34]. Blood concentration of homocysteine was measured and ultrasound of Common Carotid Artery for intima-media thickness was performed
Results: Significantly elevated level of homocysteine was observed in epileptic patients on CBZ therapy. Common Carotid Artery Intima-media thickness [CCAIMT] was observed significantly high throughout group Cbut it was more profound in Group-C-lll. Homocysteine was found positively correlated with right CCA IMT, left CCA IMT and mean CCA IMT
Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia was linked with increased risk of atherosclerosis in CBZ treated epileptic patients