Effect of antiepileptic drugs on serum serotonin level among children with idiopathic epilepsy

Abstract EN

-Background: Epilepsy represents a heterogeneous group of disorders with diverse etiologies, electrographically, behaviorally seizure patterns and pharmacological sensitivities.

Objectives: To evaluate the status of serotonin in newly diagnosed cases of idiopathic epilepsy and to correlate these levels to the response to therapy.

Methodology: An interventional clinical study was performed on 30 children with idiopathic epilepsy on their first presentation before administration of any AED and further follow-up after (3- 5) months of AED therapy.

Thirty apparently healthy for age and sex matched to epileptic children served as controls.

Serum levels of serotonin were estimated to the included subjects.

Subjects were able to give a written informed consent prior to participation in this study.

Results: There was significant good response to AEDs in idiopathic epileptic children since the increase in time intervals from the last seizure (P< 0.001).

Chalfont severity scales were significantly decreased after starting AED therapy and throughout all stages of the study baseline; 3 and 5 months follow up (P<0001).

Serum serotonin median levels were increased after using AEDs, especially after 5 months from the base- line, with further significant increase in levetiracetam group (P= 0.036).

Median levels of serotonin were not significantly different among baseline levels, and after (3- 5) months.

However, there was a significant decrease in the median serotonin levels after 5 months in comparison to the group after 3 months; reaching almost to the baseline levels (P= 0.023).

Conclusion: Serum serotonin levels among epileptic children are controversial and it might be multifactorial affected by using antiepileptics and therapy duration