Thyroid function in epileptic children who receive carbamazepine, primidone, phenobarbital and valproic acid

ABSTRACT

In this study, we investigated the changes of the serum levels of thyroidhormones including Thyroxine [T4], Triiodothyronine [T3], T3 resin uptake andThyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] in epileptic children during treatment withanti-epileptic drugs [AEDs] including carbamazepine [CBZ], primidone [PRM],phenobarbital and valproic acid [VPA]. This study consisted of four case-series comparisons, was conducted on 115epileptic children [37 girls and 78 boys with an age range between 2 months and 15 years, mean 62.06 A +/- 44.97 months]. These children were divided into4 groups who took either phenobarbital [n=29], PRM [n=28], CBZ [n=29], or VPA [n=29] for 3 months. Thyroid hormone levels [T3, T3 resin uptake, T4 and TSH] were measured at the beginning and three months after starting the study. At first, all patients were euthyroid and there were no clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of hypothyroidism. Regarding thyroid hormones before and after the administration of phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid and primidone, there were no significant changes in serum T3, T4, T3 resin uptake and TSH levels. Our findings showed that short term therapy with phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid and primidone had no effect on thyroid function tests