From the Departments of Pharmacology and Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract: (3676 Views)
35 epileptic patients, aged 10 to 58 years (mean 23), who were taking
anticonvulsant drugs were studied. The patients exhibited a 34% reduction
in serum calcium levels, a 41 % increase in serum alkaline phosphatase
activity and a slight but insignificant decrease in serum phosphate, compared
to untreated controls. These changes appear to be related to the anticonvulsant
drug taken, in the following order of decreasing importance: phenytoin
+ phenobarbital + carbamazepine phenytoin + phenobarbital phenytoin
+ carbamazepine,and phenobarbital + carbamazepine. It is possible that
anticonvulsant drugs alter vitamin D metabolism which results in disturbance
of calcium homeostasis. Moreover these changes in serum calcium and
alkaline phosphatase activity in anticonvulsant treatment patients are
similar to those in patients with osteomalacia.