[Changes in the thyroid hormone system with combined anticonvulsion treatment of epileptic children and adolescents (author's transl)].

Anticovulsant combined treatment produces statistically significant reduction of total thyroxine, free thyroxine and protein-bound iodine. Total cholesterin is significantly raised on average of the total. Basal concentration of thyreotropic hormone is slightly lowered. The extent of changes is rather greater than with Valproat-, Diphenylhydantoin- and primidon permanent treatment; it corresponds with that seen in long term Carbamazepin treatment. No definite combinations of anticonvulsants could be found which would act in a particularly unfavorable fashion on the thyroid hormone system. In double combinations the changes in serum concentrations were the same as in triple combinations. The action of combined treatment in permanent treatment with single drugs is thought to be due to a removal of T4 from the transport protein link and induction of liver enzyme, which produces rapid conversion and metabolizing of T4. A hypothalamic action of combined antoconvulsants is discussed.