Ghrelin levels are reduced in prepubertal epileptic children under treatment with carbamazepine or valproic acid

Epilepsia. 2010 Feb;51(2):312-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02307.x. Epub 2009 Sep 22.

Abstract

A relationship between ghrelin and epilepsy has been already shown in humans, although the results are controversial. Ghrelin levels are reduced in obesity. Epileptic patients progressively develop a therapy-linked weight gain; however, the mechanisms for this have not been fully explained. The aim of our study is to evaluate if ghrelin secretion is modulated by treatment with carbamazepine or valproic acid in young prepubertal epileptic children. Ghrelin levels were reduced in normal-weight young epileptic prepubertal children under treatment with carbamazepine (p < 0.0001) or valproic acid (p < 0.006) compared to healthy age- and weight-matched subjects. Ghrelin was also lower in children under carbamazepine when compared to those under valproic acid (p < 0.01). A derangement in ghrelin secretion in epilepsy during specific pharmacologic therapies and independent of weight gain could be hypothesized.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / blood
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Body Height / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Carbamazepine / adverse effects
  • Carbamazepine / blood
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Depression, Chemical
  • Epilepsy / blood
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Ghrelin / blood*
  • Ghrelin / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Puberty / blood
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Valproic Acid / adverse effects
  • Valproic Acid / blood
  • Valproic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Weight Gain / physiology

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Ghrelin
  • Carbamazepine
  • Valproic Acid