All issues > Volume 47(9); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(9):965-969. Published online September 15, 2004.

Effects of the Chronic Use of Anticonvulsants on Bone Mineral Density in Children with Epilepsy

Hyun Hee HH Oh¹, You Cheol YC Jang¹, Byung Ho BH Choe¹, Il Hyung IH Park², Soon Hak SH Kwon¹

¹Departments of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
²Departments of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea

Correspondence Soon Hak SH Kwon ,Email: shkwon@knu.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Chronic administration of anticonvulsants for children with epilepsy may cause multiple abnormalities in bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of anticonvulsants on bone mineral density(BMD) in children with epilepsy.
Methods
: Seventy patients with epilepsy were enrolled in this study. All subjects had taken anticonvulsants for at least 1 year or more. Subjects were classified into three groups according to age(5-7 yrs, 8-11 yrs, >12 yrs). BMD was measured by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DXA) on the lumbar spine and whole body. Statistical analysis for BMD of anticonvulsants-treated subjects were compared to results with the published data.
Results
: BMD was significantly decreased in the anticonvulsants-treated group as compared with the control group of all age groups(P<0.05). But BMD among groups according to anticonvulsants was not significantly different(P>0.05).
Conclusion
: Because chronic administration of anticonvulsants for growing children leads to a decrease in BMD, early detection and management of abnormal BMD is important in monitoring of children with epilepsy.

Keywords :Anticonvulsants, Bone density, Child