Effect of antiepileptic drugs on various lipid fractions and certain liver enzymes in epileptic patients of Punjab origin

Introduction and Aim: Epilepsy requires lifelong therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) &having medical and psychological consequence. Present study was conducted to observe the effect of different AEDs on lipid profile and certain liver enzymes on epileptic patients. Material and Methods: 50 epileptic patients receiving AEDs for minimum 1 year were recruited as study group and 50 healthy subjects considered as control group. These subjects were recruited from general community of Punjab. Fasting blood samples were drawn from patients and healthy subjects for the evaluation of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT & ALP. Results: Significant increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL- cholesterol was observed in epileptic patients while no significant change was recorded in HDL- cholesterol. Maximum increase in total cholesterol, TGs, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL- cholesterol levels was observed in phenytoin treated patients with reference tovalproic acid, carbamazepine, levetiracetam treated patients. Levels of AST, ALT and ALP were significantly increased in epileptic patients. Maximum increase in AST & ALT was observed in levetiracetam treated epileptic patients and maximum rise in ALP levels was found in carbamazepine treated patients with reference to other AEDs treated patients. Conclusion: Aforementioned observations suggested that epileptic patients treated with phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine & levetiracetam for long time could cause dyslipidemia, might be responsible for various CHD’s and hepatotoxicity in epileptic patients. Routine screening of lipid profile and hepatic enzymes during chronic use of AEDs is recommended.