Indian Write- Ups

M. Beg,S. Afzaal,A.Kamal
Neurology Clinic, Department of Medicine, J. N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, U. P.

Source: Indian Medical Gazettee October 2001, CXXXV(10)

Epilepsy forms the largest group requiring long-term anticonvulsive therapy but are exposed to various untoward effects including lipid profile aberrations with its known complications but with conflicting observations. This prospective study is aimed to look for such aberrations. Forty-four newly diagnosed epileptic patients were included in the study and given phenobarbitone 120 - 180 mg / day. Estimation of various parameters of lipid profile were done at basal, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Twenty-five comparable subjects served as control. Significant increase in HDL-C (P<0.001) was observed at 12 and 24 weeks while insignificant change was observed in other parameters of lipid profile in epileptic patients, thereby protecting these patients from atherogenic vascular diseases.

Therefore it is concluded that long-term usage of phenobarbitone increases significantly, HDL-C without significant change in other parameters of lipid profile in epileptic patients, thereby protecting these patients from atherogenic vascular diseases.

Keywords

Serum lipids; Phenobarbitone; Epilepsy

Introduction

Epilepsy, as a clinical entity requires long-term therapy. Though these patients come out of agony but are predisposed to various untoward side effects 1 including serum lipid abnormalities with its known complications2, 3, 4. However, clinicians working on epilepsy have reported decreased incidence of coronary artery disease5, 6, 7 but with conflicting observations of lipid profile parameters. Also there is a lack of such studies in Indian population. At this juncture it is quiet worth while to look into these aberrations of lipid profile parameters in-patient of epilepsy on long-term phenobarbitone, a commonly used anticonvulsant drug.

Methods

The present study comprise of forty-four newly diagnosed epileptic patients attending neurology clinic or admitted in In-patient Department of Medicine, J. N. Medical College, A. M. U, Aligarh. They were subjected to phenobarbitone therapy in dosages of 120 - 180 mg / day orally. 5 ml of venous blood was taken after overnight fasting and estimation of Total Serum Cholesterol (TC), High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid (PL) was done before therapy and after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of therapy. Twenty-five comparable subjects served as control. Statistical analysis was done using student's `t' test.

Results

Table 1 shows age and sex distribution of study and control and are comparable. Maximum number of cases are in their second decade, however the number of cases decreased with increase in the age.

Table 2 shows no significant change in various parameters of lipid profile of study group before therapy as compared to control showing epilepsy per se does not produce any aberration in various parameters of lipid profile.