Evaluation of bone turnover in epileptic children using oxcarbazepine

Pediatr Neurol. 2008 Oct;39(4):266-71. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2008.07.001.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of oxcarbazepine monotherapy on bone turnover in prepubertal and pubertal children. Thirty-four newly diagnosed pediatric patients with normal bone mineral density, serum biochemical markers of bone formation, and hormonal markers participated. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were significantly decreased after therapy compared with baseline values. Levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin had increased. However, only changes in osteocalcin and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were statistically significant compared with baseline values. Drug-induced osteopenia was evident in 3 patients with z scores of bone-mineral density less than -2.0, whereas these patients had z scores of less than -1.5 before treatment. Although 18 months of oxcarbazepine treatment exerted slightly adverse effects on bone metabolism, the effect seems insignificant in children with normal bone-mineral density. Although alterations in bone metabolism do not always suffice to explain the decrease in bone-mineral metabolism, we think that patients with osteopenia before the initiation of oxcarbazepine therapy should be followed carefully, especially in long-term treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Bone Density / drug effects*
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / chemically induced*
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / metabolism
  • Calcitonin / blood
  • Carbamazepine / administration & dosage
  • Carbamazepine / adverse effects
  • Carbamazepine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Epilepsy
  • Humans
  • Osteocalcin / blood
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects*
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Phosphorus / blood
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • gamma-Glutamylcyclotransferase / blood

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Biomarkers
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Osteocalcin
  • Vitamin D
  • Phosphorus
  • Carbamazepine
  • Calcitonin
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • gamma-Glutamylcyclotransferase
  • Oxcarbazepine