Effects of Anticonvulsant Monotherapy on Bone Mineral Density in Children

Shin, Chanok; Lee, Na Yeong; Han, Ji Yoon; Yoo, Il Han; Eom, Tae Hoon; Bin, Joong Hyun; Kim, Young Hoo; Chung, Seung Yun; Lee, In Goo

doi:2018.26.4.269

Ann Child Neurol > Volume 26(4); 2018 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society 2018;26(4):269-271.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26815/jkcns.2018.26.4.269 Published online December 31, 2018.

Effects of Anticonvulsant Monotherapy on Bone Mineral Density in Children

Chanok Shin, Na Yeong Lee, Ji Yoon Han, Il Han Yoo, Tae Hoon Eom, Joong Hyun Bin, Young Hoo Kim, Seung Yun Chung, In Goo Lee

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Joong Hyun Bin, Tel: +82-32-340-7049, Fax: +82-32-340-2255,
Email: 37class@daum.net

Received: 25 October 2018 • Revised: 30 November 2018 • Accepted: 21 December 2018

Abstract

Purpose
The use of anticonvulsants can cause side effects such as reduction of bone mineral density, requiring attention in growing children. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of different anticonvulsants on bone mineral density in epileptic patients treated with monotherapy.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 60 subjects who visited the Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic of Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital from January 2013 to December 2017. Bone mineral density was measured with dual photon absorptiometry every 6 months.
Results
The number of patients treated with oxcarbazepine, valproate and levetiracetam was 31, 16 and 13, respectively. Reduction of bone mineral density was seen in 8 out of 31 patients (25.8%, P=0.10) treated with oxcarbazepine, 9 out of 16 patients treated with valproate (56.3%, P=0.04) and 4 out of 13 patients treated with levetiracetam (30.8%, P=0.50).
Conclusion
There was a significant reduction of bone mineral density in patients treated with valproate compared to the other anticonvulsants in our study. We believe attention to bone mineral density is required in children treated with anticonvulsants.

Key Words: Anticonvulsant, Bone Mineral Density