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The Effect of Carbamazepine and Sodium Valproate on the Blood and Serum Values of Children From a Third-World Environment

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Cape Town Red Cross Children's Hospital Cape Town, South Africa

Michael Leary, MD, FCP (SA)

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Cape Town Red Cross Children's Hospital Cape Town, South Africa

Gillian Riordan, FCP (SA)

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Cape Town Red Cross Children's Hospital Cape Town, South Africa

Birgit Schlegal, FCP (SA)

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Cape Town Red Cross Children's Hospital Cape Town, South Africa

Kathleen Walker, MBChB

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Cape Town Red Cross Children's Hospital Cape Town, South Africa

In third-world countries many children with epilepsy also suffer from malnutrition, anemia, liver disease, and immunosuppression. Doctors might have reservations about the use of anticonvulsants that could aggravate these disorders. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of abnormal blood and serum values in children receiving carbamazepine or sodium valproate as monotherapy who attended a child neurology clinic serving a third-world community in Cape Town, South Africa. Blood samples were taken at routine follow-up visits from 104 children who had been on carbamazepine or sodium valproate monotherapy for at least 6 months. Hematology, serum chemistry, immunoglobulins, and anticonvulsant levels were measured by standard laboratory procedures. Very few subjects had any values outside accepted normal ranges. When clinically indicated and available, carbamazepine and sodium valproate can be prescribed for children from a third-world environment. Frequent blood and serum testing is not necessary in asymptomatic individuals. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:751-753).

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