Serum and hair zinc levels in epileptic children taking valproic acid

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the serum and hair zinc levels in patients epilepsy diagnoses who were intended to be put on valproic acid (VA) monotherapy and had never ingested antiepileptics before. A total of 16 patients having normal growth, development and nutrition was selected as Group 1, and Group 2 was made up of 10 patients who had received VA monotherapy for 2 yrs or more and had normal growth, development, and nutrition characteristics. A control group (Group 3) was formed of 15 subjects who applied to the hospital for upper respiratory tract disorders. Serum and hair samples were taken for zinc assays from the Group 1 patients on the d 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 180. Groups 2 and 3 were sampled only once, and zinc levels were determined. We found that both serum and hair zinc levels in Group 1 were higher than those of Group 2 and control group before the beginning of VA therapy, but they returned to normal during VA treatment. There was no zinc deficiency, and zinc replacement treatment may therefore be considered as unnecessary.

Trace Elements and Electrolytes Homeostasis and Their Relation to Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Brain Hyperexcitability of Epileptic Patients

“…Steidl et al (72) Hair analysis has been used to evaluate the trace element status in the body (74 -76). Hair levels of Zn 2+ were found to be decreased in patients on AEDs compared to those in controls (77,78,30). In the prospective study done by Altunbasak et al (78), the serum and hair levels of Zn 2+ were found to be higher in untreated epileptic patients than those treated with VPA and controls and returned to normal level after VPA treatment.…”

Reversible onychomadesis following exposure to carbamazepine

“…The various drugs causing nail changes are chemotherapeutic agents, psoralens, phenothiazines, lithium, The exact etiopathogenesis of AED-induced onychomadesis is not known. [17] The association of AED-induced isolated onychomadesis is highlighted in our case. Exposure to anticonvulsants such as diphenylhydantoin, trimethadone, valproic acid, and carbamazepine during pregnancy is associated with fingernail and toe-nail hypoplasia in the newborn.…”

The Effects Of Antiepileptic Drugs On Serum And Hair Trace Element Levels

“…On the other hand, the number of studies focusing on the trace element levels of epileptics prior to and during treatment is rather limited (14)(15)(16)(17) It is important to underline that all patients treated in our study were precribed drugs at the normal dosage and all serum levels of AEDs were within the therapeutic range. Age may have been one of the factors why serum Zn levels were significantly lower in PB group.…”