Effect of long-term treatment with sodium valproate on gonadotrophin and prolactin secretion in paediatric patients.

1 Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin levels were measured in twenty paediatric patients receiving sodium valproate (30 mg/kg body weight daily) and in ten control subjects under control conditions and following LRH-TRH administration. In addition, baseline GH levels were measured in the two groups. 2 No significant differences were observed between the basal and stimulated hormone levels in the two groups. Although sodium valproate may act as anticonvulsant by increasing GABA levels in the central nervous system, the present data indicate that a central GABAergic pathway is probably not involved in the control of gonadotrophin and prolactin secretion.