Serum lipids and lipoproteins in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs.

The concentration levels of serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured in three groups of children and adolescents treated with antiepileptic drugs: carbamazepine (14 patients), phenobarbital (20 patients), and valproic acid (20 patients). Patients treated with these drugs revealed significant changes in lipids and lipoproteins, but when the authors reevaluated the three groups of children 1 year after the end of treatment, a complete return to normal of all parameters was observed. These data demonstrate that the changes induced by these drugs are transient and reversible.