ISSN: 2474-9214
Authors: Dwajani S*, Sharon E, Punya G and Prema R
Epilepsy is defined as a neurological disorder that is associated with excessive and abnormal cortical nerve cell activity in the brain. Epilepsy is idiopathic whereas some cases may be a result of brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, alcohol/drug abuse or due to genetic mutation. Long-term treatment with Antiepileptics [AEDs] is associated with cognitive impairment, idiosyncratic effects, chronic effects such as weight gain, increased risk of teratogenicity, and endocrine effects on reproductive, adrenal, and thyroid systems. Hence we decided quantify the effects of sodium valproate and levetiracetam monotherapy on thyroid levels in pediatric patients with epilepsy. We enrolled 30 patients, of <18 years, with confirmed cases of epilepsy, receiving AEDs either sodium valproate or Levetiracetam monotherapy, Children with severe systemic disorders were excluded from the study. There was a male predominance in our study. we analyzed the socioeconomic status, and found that 50% belong to lower-middle-class family. Majority were diagnosed with GTCS. With regard to the treatment with AEDs, majority of patients received valproate, With regard to the levels of thyroid hormone; we noticed that in group 2 majority of patients were hypothyroid, when compared to group1 where most of the patients were euthyroid. After analysis we come to the conclusion that group1 have more or less no change in thyroid levels; whereas group2 have mostly shown a shift towards hypothyroidism. Thereby we quantified the effects of sodium valproate and levetiracetam monotherapy on Thyroid levels in pediatric patients with epilepsy and we have determined the time for screening Interval as 7-12 months.
Keywords: Epilepsy; Antiepileptic Drugs; Monothearaphy
