Biochemical study of children with grand mal epilepsy treated with either carbamazepine or valproate sodium

The present study was conducted on 40 children with grand mal epilepsy attending the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of El-Shatby Children's Hospital [Alexandria]. They were divided into two groups Group [A]: those patients receiving valproate sodium as the sole drug therapy and Group [B]: those patients receiving carbamazepine as the sole drug therapy. Twenty patients from each group were investigated at three stages: Before starting treatment, after four weeks of treatment and after control of the attacks. Twenty healthy, age-matched children were studied as controls. Serum and CSF electrolytes,liver transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase were studied