Serum insulin, cortisol, leptin, neuropeptide Y, galanin and ghrelin levels in epileptic children receiving oxcarbazepine.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy causes weight gain in epileptic children.

METHODS

A total of 22 children with epilepsy (age 3.0-16.4 years) were assigned to OXC therapy. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin and ghrelin were assessed before OXC therapy (month 0) and after the 6th and 18th months.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in weight-standard deviation score (SDS), Height-SDS, BMI-SDS, serum glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, NPY, galanin and ghrelin levels between initial values (month 0) and those in the 6th and 18th months after OXC therapy (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that OXC therapy causes neither weight change nor alterations in serum glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, NPY, galanin and ghrelin levels in children with epilepsy.