ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effects of a 3-month low dose valporic acid treatment [20 mg/kg/ day] on liver function tests, hematologic parameters, serum lipids and lipoprotein [a] levels in children. Twenty-one newly diagnosed epileptic pediatric patients, nine female and 12 male, aged between 18 months and 14 years old [mean age 6.3 +/- 4.3 years], were enrolled in this study, valporic acid treatment was started with a dose of 20 mg/kg/day. To evaluate the effects of valporic acid on liver function tests, hematologic parameters, and serum lipids and lipoprotein levels were measured in pre-treatment and post-treatment 3[rd] month and values in pre-treatment were compared with values in post-treatment 3[rd] month. There were no statistically significant differences between pre-treatment and post-treatment 3[rd] month values regarding liver function tests, hematologic parameters, and serum lipids [p>0.05]. But lipoprotein [a] levels in the post-treatment 3[rd] month [40.71 +/- 50.73 mg/dl] were significantly higher than the pre-treatment levels [25.86 +/- 36.54 mg/dl] [p<0.01]. It was demonstrated that low dose of valporic acid treatment did not have any significant effects on liver function tests, hematologic parameters and serum lipids after three months. On the other hand it caused an increase in lipoprotein [a] levels. We consider that although these are the initial results for lipoprotein [a] levels and further studies should be undertaken on a larger sample size to confirm our observations, epileptic pediatric patients receiving low dose of valporic acid should not be routinely checked for liver function tests, hematologic parameters and serum lipid profiles, but serum levels of lipoprotein [a] may be monitorized carefully