Serum Thyroid Hormone Levels in Epileptic Children Receiving Anticonvulsive Drugs

How to Cite this Article: Mahyar A, Ayazi P, Dalirani R, Hosseini SM, Daneshi Kohan MM. Serum Thyroid Hormone Levels in Epileptic Children Receiving AnticonvulsiveDrugs. Iranian Journal of Child Neurology 2011;5(4):21-24.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate serum thyroid hormone levels in epileptic children receiving anticonvulsive drugs.Materials & MethodsIn this case- control study, 30 epileptic children who were receiving anticonvulsive drugs (case group) were compared with 30 healthy children (control group). This study was carried out in the Qazvin Children's Hospital (Qazvin, Iran) from October to December 2007. Both groups were matched for age and sex. Thyroid hormone levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric assay. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Student's t-tests.ResultsThe mean serum T3 and T4 levels in the case group were 2.36 ± 0.73 nmol/L and 95.96 ± 27.01 nmol/L, respectively, and the corresponding values in the control group were 1.88 ± 0.93 nmol/L and 147.46 ± 35.77 nmol/L, respectively. The mean serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the case and control groups were 2.73±0.73 mIU/mL and 2.49 ± 2.17mIU/mL, respectively.ConclusionThis study revealed that long-term consumption of anticonvulsive drugs resulted in a decline in serum T4 levels and an increase in serum T3 levels, but had no effect on TSH levels. 1. Johnston M. Neurodegenerative disorders of childhood;Spingolipidoses. Nelson textbook of pediatrics, 17th edPhiladelphia: Saunders; 2004.P.2031-2.2. Sankar R, Koh S, Wu J, Menkes J. Paroxysmal disorders.In(eds): Menkes JH, Sarnat HB, Maria BL. ChildNeurology; 2006.P.7:877.3. Shiva S, Ashrafi M, Mostafavi F, Abasi F, RahbariA, Shabanian R. Effects of anticonvulsant drugs onthyroid function tests. Iranian Journal of pediatrics2003;13(02):101.4. Kimura M, Yoshino K, Suzuki N, Maeoka Y. Effect ofantiepileptic drugs on thyroid function. Psychiatry andclinical neurosciences. 1995;49(4):227-9.5. Eris Pural J, Delrio-Garma M, Delrio - Castro – GagoM. Long Term treatment of children with epilepsy withvalprovats or carbamazepin, may cause subclinicalhypothyroidism. Epilepsia 1999;40(12):1961.6. Isojärvi JIT, Turkka J, Pakarinen AJ, Kotila M,Rättyä J, Myllylä VV. Thyroid function in men takingcarbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, or valproate for epilepsy.Epilepsia 2001;42(7):930-4.7. Vainionpää LK, Mikkonen K, Rättyä J, Knip M,Pakarinen AJ, Myllylä VV, et al. Thyroid function ingirls with epilepsy with carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine,or valproate monotherapy and after withdrawal ofmedication. Epilepsia 2004;45(3):197-203.8. Verrotti A, Basciani F, Morresi S, Morgese G, ChiarelliF. Thyroid hormones in epileptic children receivingcarbamazepine and valproic acid. Pediatric neurology2001;25(1):43-6.9. Kantrowitz L, Peterson M, Trepanier L, Melian C,Nichols R. Serum total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine,free thyroxine, and thyrotropin concentrations in epilepticdogs treated with anticonvulsants. Journal of the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association 1999;214(12):1804.10. Schröder-van der Elst J, Van der Heide D, Van der BentC, Kaptein E, Visser T, DiStefano J. Effects of 5, 5 -diphenylhydantoin on the thyroid status in rats. Europeanjournal of endocrinology 1996;134(2):221.11. Schonberger W, Grimm W, Schonberger G, SinterhaufK, Scheidt E, Ziegler R. [The influence of primidone onthyroid function (author’s transl)]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr1979;104(25):915-7.12. Tiihonen M, Liewendahl K, Waltimo O, Ojala M,Valimaki M. Thyroid status of patients receiving longtermanticonvulsant therapy assessed by peripheralparameters: a placebo-controlled thyroxine therapy trial.Epilepsia 1995;36(11):1118-25.13. Benedetti MS, Whomsley R, Baltes E, Tonner F. Alterationof thyroid hormone homeostasis by antiepileptic drugsin humans: involvement of glucuronosyltransferaseinduction. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61(12):863-72