Serum thyroid hormones and pituitary response to thyrotropin‐releasing hormone in epileptic children receiving anti‐epileptic medication

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thyroid hormones and pituitary function were assessed in 49 children with epilepsy who were receiving either a single medication of carbamazepine, phenobarbital and valproate or a combination of carbamazepine with phenobarbital or valproate. All therapeutic regimens except valproate monotherapy were associated with low levels of circulating thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine and free thyroxine. Carbamazepine with valproate was associated with the lowest serum concentration of thyroid hormones. It seems probable that accelerated hormone metabolism is responsible for these hormonal changes. However, all drug regimens also had effects on the function of the hypothalamic pituitary axis. Because of these findings, thyroid hormones should be checked frequently during anti-epileptic drug treatment, although clinical hypothyroidism was not seen in our patients.