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Homocysteine Levels in Epileptic Children Receiving Antiepileptic Drugs

Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey, semra.kurul{at}deu.edu.tr

Aycan Ünalp, MD

Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

Uluç Yi, MD

Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

The aim of this study is to investigate the homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B₁₂ levels in epileptic children receiving antiepileptic drugs. A total of 25 children with idiopathic epilepsy (8 valproate, 11 carbamazepine, and 6 oxcarbazepine) and 10 healthy children were included in the study. The mean homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B₁₂ levels in the study group were 7.57 ± 3.78 µmol/L (normal = 5-15 µmol/L), 10.19 ± 4.05 ng/mL (normal = 3.0-17 ng/mL), and 428.20 ± 256.12 pg/mL (normal = 193-983 pg/mL), respectively. The differences between the mean plasma homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B₁₂ levels of the study and control groups were not significant (P = .522; P = .855; P = .798, respectively). However, plasma homocysteine levels were higher than the normal cutoff point accepted for childhood in 4 (16%) of the study patients. Out of these 4 children, 3 were from the carbamazepine group and 1 was from the valproate group. Although the number of the study patients is limited, the authors recommend assessment of plasma homocysteine, serum vitamin B₁₂, and folic acid levels in children receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs.

Key Words: homocysteine • antiepileptic drugs • folic acid

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 22, No. 12, 1389-1392 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0883073807307081


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