Background: Antiepileptic drugs are necessary for successful treatment of epilepsy. Unfortunately, epilepsy itself and some antiepileptic drugs have been documented to provoke or worsen seizure frequency by altering blood levels of some oxidants and antioxidants in persons with epilepsy.
Objective: This study investigated the effect of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs on blood levels of some oxidants and antioxidants.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional case-control study. Blood samples were obtained from 35 antiepileptic drug-experienced persons with epilepsy; 35 antiepileptic-naıve persons with epilepsy; and 35 age- and- sex matched apparently healthy controls; and analysed for malondialdehyde and antioxidants (uric acid, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: One-hundred and five (105) subjects (35 patients on antiepileptic drugs, 35 newly diagnosed, antiepileptic drug-naive and 35 healthy controls) were investigated. The median ages of antiepileptic drug-experienced, antiepileptic drug-naıve and healthy participants were 30.0, 26.0 and 37.0 years respectively. Persons with epilepsy had significantly higher blood levels of malondialdehyde and uric acid and lower levels of enzymatic antioxidants than healthy controls. Also, persons with epilepsy on antiepileptic drug polytherapy had signi-ficantly higher blood levels of malondialdehyde and uric acid and lower levels of enzymatic antioxidants than antiepileptic drug-naıve persons with epilepsy and persons with epilepsy on antiepileptic drug monotherapy respectively.
Conclusion: Epilepsy and antiepileptic drug significantly altered blood levels of malondialdehyde, uric acid and enzymatic antioxidants and/or their homeostatic kinetics.