The Influence of Valproic acid and Carbamazepine on the Immunologic Status of Children.
- Author:
Byoung Young LIM
1
;
Soo Ahn CHAE
;
Byoung Hoon YOO
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Carbamazepine;
Valproic acid;
Serum immunoglobulin
- MeSH:
Anticonvulsants;
Carbamazepine*;
Child*;
Communicable Diseases;
Humans;
Immune System;
Immunity, Humoral;
Immunoglobulin A;
Immunoglobulin G;
Immunoglobulin M;
Seizures;
Valproic Acid*
- From:
Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
1999;6(2):293-298
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy has been reported to induce immunological alterations in epileptic patients. However, despite extensive studies, the accumulated data are not consistent and there is still confusion and controversy over the effects of AEDs on the immune system. This study tries to elucidate the effects of anticonvulsant on some immune parameters, and serum concentration of IgA, IgG, IgM. METHODS: Thirty pediatric epileptic patients[Group A (n=12) : patients on carbamazepine, Group B (n=10) : patients on valproic acid and Group C (n=8) : patients on carbamazepine and valproic acid] were enrolled in this study and the levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined before treatment and after 10 months of anticonvulsant therapy. Paired t-test was used to evaluate the data. p values<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean serum concentratrions of IgG was elevated in patients receiving anticonvulsants (p<0.05) but mean concentrations of IgA and IgM were not different significantly. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that anticonvulsants elevate the serum concentrations of IgG level, suggesting that anticonvulsants may increase humoral immunity and decrease the opportunity of infectious disease, thus decreasing the convulsion.
