Background: Several studies have reported that antiepileptic drugs increase serum High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, while others documented no such effect. Further, some researchers also observed that valproic acid (VPA) and other newer antiepileptic drugs have no influence on serum lipid profile.
Aim and objectives: To study the effect of chronic intake of Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) in epileptic children on serum lipid profile including: Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TGs), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C).
Subjects and methods: This is a cross sectional analytic study that was carried out on 50 epileptic children attending the Pediatric Neurology Clinics of Sayed Galal and El-Shatby university hospitals using AEDs: Carbamazepine, Na valproate, and Levetiracetam during the period from February 2021 to January 2022 , they were selected by simple random method. All the studied patients were subjected to: Detailed history taking with special emphasis on their seizure record, Clinical examination with special emphasis on CNS and Laboratory evaluation of Lipid profile including (TC, TGs, HDL-C and LDL-C).
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in cholesterol in Na valproate group as it was higher in females than in males (p-value=0.013). There was a statistically significant difference in LDL cholesterol in Na valproate group as it was higher in females than in males (p-value=0.011) , and no statistically significant difference in other antiepileptic drugs regarding sex of the patient, There was no statistically significant difference in any of the antiepileptic drugs regarding lipid profile between groups with different disease duration. Also, no statistically significant difference in any of the antiepileptic drugs regarding lipid profile between groups with different age.
Conclusion: Epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs are not considered risk factors of dyslipidemia. The results didn't show significant adverse effect on lipid profile in patients on long term antiepileptic drugs therapy.