Evaluation of serum electrolytes and uric acid in Iraqi epileptic patients

ABSTRACT

Epileptic patients exhibited variably altered status of electrolytes, and antioxidant. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of epilepsy and long-term antiepileptic drug therapy on the level of serum electrolytes [calcium, sodium, and potassium] and antioxidant [uric acid] .Thirty epileptic patients and twenty normal healthy individuals as a control were recruited in this study. The mean +/- SD of age of treated and untreated patients was [24.0 +/- 10.0] and [31.0 +/- 11.0] respectively. Spectrophotometric technique was used to determine all the parameters in this study. Data were expressed as mean +/- SD. Statistical comparison among different groups was performed by using ANOVA tests. Statistical significance was defined, as P<0.05. The treated group [particularly with valproate], show increases in the levels of calcium, sodium, with no difference in potassium, however among untreated epileptics, uric acid level was increased. The above parameters differs in epileptics comparable to controls and hence their correlation to seizures pathophysiology and their degree of control or resistance to antiepileptic drug therapy