Antiseizure medication effect-dosage on thyroid function in pediatric patients with epilepsy: Data analysis

Piero Pavone; Alberto Verrotti; Giovanni Battista Dell'Isola; Ottavia Avola; Manuela  Lo Bianco; Marco  Giaimi; Alessandra  Di Nora; Pietro Ferrara; Tiziana  Timpanaro

doi:10.23750/abm.v96i2.15544

Authors

Piero Pavone Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Italy
Alberto Verrotti Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Italy
Giovanni Battista Dell'Isola 1) Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy. 2) Department of Developmental Disabilities, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy
Ottavia Avola Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Specialization in pediatrics, section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Italy
Manuela Lo Bianco Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Specialization in pediatrics, section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Italy
Marco Giaimi Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Specialization in pediatrics, section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Italy
Alessandra Di Nora Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Specialization in pediatrics, section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Italy
Pietro Ferrara Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
Tiziana Timpanaro Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Italy

Keywords:

antiseizure medication, thyroid, epilepsy, children

Abstract

Background and aim: The potential influence of antiseizure medications on thyroid function and subsequent alterations in thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism has been reported. This study investigates the correlation between some commonly used antiseizure medication administration and thyroid hormone effects in pediatric patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 41 pediatric patients diagnosed with various types of epilepsy, receiving diagnosis and treatment at the Pediatric Operative Unit of the 'G. Rodolico-San Marco' Hospital, Catania, Italy. The patients were categorized based on epilepsy type, focusing on the impact of 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 (T4) levels.

Results: The results showed no significant linear correlation between drug dosages and thyroid parameters, suggesting that other factors as genetic predisposition, individual metabolic variations, and drug interactions may contribute to thyroid parameter alterations in children undergoing antiseizure medication.

Conclusions: Further comprehensive studies are warranted to unravel the underlying mechanisms and effects of additional variables, essentials for optimizing therapeutic approaches in treatment of children with epilepsy.

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