Effect of Antiepileptic Drugs on Thyroid Function in Epileptic Sudanese Children

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional hospital based study, aimed to study the effect of antiepileptic drugs on the thyroid function. It was conducted in Gafaar Ibn Ouf and Omdurman Children’s Emergency Hospital referral clinics, in the period from April – July 2006. The total of 67 children with epilepsy, aged < 16 yrs and 30 healthy children were taken as control, males were predominant (68.7%). 56 patients were on Carbamazepine and 11 patients were on Sodium Valporate. All children in the study group were surveyed and investigated for thyroid function by measuring serum T4, T3 and TSH levels. • Carbamazepine group had significantly low serum T4 level (P = 0.00) and significantly higher T3 level (0.04) than control group. • TSH level had insignificant difference from control group. • Sodium Valporate group had insignificant difference in thyroid function from control. • Serum T4 level in Carbamazepine group affected by age but not affected by sex, origin and duration of treatment. • Serum T3 level in Carbamazepine affected by duration of treatment but not affected by sex, age or origin. • Almost all patients were clinically euthyroid.