Anastasia Garoufi1, George Vartzelis2, Charalambos Tsentidis2, Achilleas Attilakos3, Evangelia Koemtzidou2, Lydia Kossiva2, Eustathia Katsarou4, Alexandra Soldatou2. 1. Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: garoufi@yahoo.gr. 2. Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527 Athens, Greece. 3. Third Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Rimini 1, 12462, Haidari, Athens, Greece. 4. Department of Pediatric Neurology, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias Str., 11527, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies of the effect of oxcarbazepine (OXC) on body growth of children with epilepsy are rare and their results are controversial. To the contrary, many studies have shown significant weight gain following valproate (VPA) treatment. PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the effect of OXC monotherapy on growth patterns of children with epilepsy and compare it with the effect of VPA monotherapy. METHOD: Fifty-nine otherwise healthy children, aged 3.7-15.9 years, with primary generalized, partial or partial with secondary generalization seizure disorder, were included in the study. Twenty six children were placed on OXC and thirty three on VPA monotherapy. Body weight (BW), height and body mass index (BMI) as well as their standard deviation scores (SDS), were evaluated prior to as well as 8 months post initiation of OXC or VPA therapy. RESULTS: Eight months post OXC-treatment, BW, SDS-BW, BMI and SDS-BMI increased significantly. The increase was similar to that observed in the VPA group. An additional 15.4% of children in the OXC group and 21.2% in the VPA group became overweight or obese. The effect of both OXC and VPA therapy on linear growth did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Similarly to VPA, OXC monotherapy resulted in a significant weight gain in children with epilepsy. Careful monitoring for excess weight gain along with counseling on adapting a healthy lifestyle should be offered to children on OXC therapy.
BACKGROUND: Studies of the effect of oxcarbazepine (OXC) on body growth of children with epilepsy are rare and their results are controversial. To the contrary, many studies have shown significant weight gain following valproate (VPA) treatment. PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the effect of OXC monotherapy on growth patterns of children with epilepsy and compare it with the effect of VPA monotherapy. METHOD: Fifty-nine otherwise healthy children, aged 3.7-15.9 years, with primary generalized, partial or partial with secondary generalization seizure disorder, were included in the study. Twenty six children were placed on OXC and thirty three on VPA monotherapy. Body weight (BW), height and body mass index (BMI) as well as their standard deviation scores (SDS), were evaluated prior to as well as 8 months post initiation of OXC or VPA therapy. RESULTS: Eight months post OXC-treatment, BW, SDS-BW, BMI and SDS-BMI increased significantly. The increase was similar to that observed in the VPA group. An additional 15.4% of children in the OXC group and 21.2% in the VPA group became overweight or obese. The effect of both OXC and VPA therapy on linear growth did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Similarly to VPA, OXC monotherapy resulted in a significant weight gain in children with epilepsy. Careful monitoring for excess weight gain along with counseling on adapting a healthy lifestyle should be offered to children on OXC therapy.
Authors: Gary Schneider; Tobias Banaschewski; Brian L Feldman; Per A Gustafsson; Brian Murphy; Matthew Reynolds; David R Coghill; William M Spalding Journal: J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol Date: 2019-04-03 Impact factor: 2.576