Neuropsychological impairment and altered thyroid hormone levels in epilepsy.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychological impairment is a common problem in epilepsy which interferes with the quality of life of patients. Similarly, thyroid hormone levels have been observed to be abnormal in patients with epilepsy on various treatments. This study aimed to ascertain any possible correlation between neuropsychological performance and thyroid hormone levels among epilepsy patients. METHODS: Thyroid hormone levels, indices of neuropsychological performance and social adaptation of 43 epilepsy patients were compared with those of age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Epilepsy patients exhibited significantly (p < 0.001) lower scores on attention, memory, constructional praxis, finger tapping time, and verbal intelligence quotient (i.q.) when compared with controls. Their T3, T4 and Free T3 levels were significantly lower; and TSH and Free T4 levels were significantly higher than that of controls. There was no statistically significant correlation between the indices of neuropsychological performance and thyroid hormone levels. CONCLUSION: We did not observe any correlation between neuropsychological impairment and thyroid hormone levels among patients with epilepsy.