Background and aim: The potential influence of antiseizure medications on thyroid function, leading to alterations in thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, has been previously reported. This study investigates the correlation between some commonly used antiseizure medications and their effects on thyroid hormones in pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 41 pediatric patients diagnosed with various types of epilepsy, receiving care at the Unit of Pediatric Clinic of the University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco” of Catania, Italy. Patients were categorized by epilepsy type, with a focus on the impact of the widely used antiseizure medication—valproate and levetiracetam—by assessing drug dosages, proportionally adjusted to body weight (pro/kg), in relation to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroid hormone (FT4) levels. Results: The results showed no significant linear correlation between drug dosages and thyroid parameters. This suggests that other factors, such as genetic predisposition, individual metabolic variations, and drug interactions, may contribute to thyroid parameter alterations in children receiving antiseizure medication. Conclusions: Further comprehensive studies are warranted to unravel the underlying mechanisms and effects of additional variables, which are essential for optimizing therapeutic approaches in pediatric epilepsy treatment. (www.actabiomedica.it).
Antiseizure medication effect-dosage on thyroid function in pediatric patients with epilepsy: Data analysis
Dell'Isola, Giovanni Battista;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Background and aim: The potential influence of antiseizure medications on thyroid function, leading to alterations in thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, has been previously reported. This study investigates the correlation between some commonly used antiseizure medications and their effects on thyroid hormones in pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 41 pediatric patients diagnosed with various types of epilepsy, receiving care at the Unit of Pediatric Clinic of the University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco” of Catania, Italy. Patients were categorized by epilepsy type, with a focus on the impact of the widely used antiseizure medication—valproate and levetiracetam—by assessing drug dosages, proportionally adjusted to body weight (pro/kg), in relation to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroid hormone (FT4) levels. Results: The results showed no significant linear correlation between drug dosages and thyroid parameters. This suggests that other factors, such as genetic predisposition, individual metabolic variations, and drug interactions, may contribute to thyroid parameter alterations in children receiving antiseizure medication. Conclusions: Further comprehensive studies are warranted to unravel the underlying mechanisms and effects of additional variables, which are essential for optimizing therapeutic approaches in pediatric epilepsy treatment. (www.actabiomedica.it).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
