Duration of valproic acid monotherapy correlates with subclinical thyroid dysfunction in children with epilepsy
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2016
Authors
Ilić, VBogićević, Dragana
Miljković, Branislava

Ješić, M
Kovačević, M
Prostran, Milica

Vezmar-Kovačević, Sandra

Article (Published version)

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Show full item recordAbstract
Aim. To identify potential risk factors for the development of subclinical hypothyroidism following long-term valproic acid monotherapy in children with epilepsy. Methods. Serumlevels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, thyreoglobulin antibodies, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were determined in 41 patients and in 41 sex- And age-matched healthy children. Results. Meanvalproic acid treatment durationwas 2.80?}1.96 years. The valproic acid group had higher serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (p lt 0.001) and free triiodothyronine (p lt 0.05) levels compared to the control group. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free triiodothyronine were above the upper limit for healthy controls in 34% and 32% of patients, respectively, and no clinical features of thyroid dysfunction were observed. Duration of valproic acid monotherapy for less than four years was a risk factor for elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. Conclusion. One third of children wi...th normal range serum valproic acid levels may have elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free triiodothyronine levels, especially in the first four years of treatment.
Keywords:
Children / Epilepsy / Thyroid function / Valproic acidSource:
Epileptic Disorders, 2016, 18, 2, 181-186Publisher:
- John Libbey Eurotext