[Analysis of blood hormone levels in boys of prepubertal and pubertal age with epilepsy treated with different antiepileptic drugs].

Thirty-nine boys with epilepsy, aged 8-17 years, and 61 sex- and age-matched controls have been examined. Changes of blood hormone levels were found in patients received carbamazepines, valproates, polytherapy as well as in non-treated patients. The increase of levels of progesterone, testosterone, FSH and LH, decrease of prolactin and estradiol levels and influence on thyroid gland hormones, as reflected by increasing of T4 and decreasing of T3 compared to carbamazepines, were found during the treatment with trileptal in the older group. The significant changes of decreased blood hormone levels were observed in children received phenobarbital and benzonal. In children treated with topamax, only the changes in FSH and DHEA were shown. No changes in the content of thyroid gland hormones were found in patients received topamax and non-treated patients. The increase of TTH was observed in children of the younger group treated with valproate. In conclusion, the influence of such antiepileptic drugs as carbamazepine, barbiturates may be directly related with the changes of steroid hormone metabolism. Valproic acid, a well-known protein inhibitor, may impact on the content of reproductive hormones in the blood. The changes of blood hormone levels in boys with epilepsy treated with antiepileptic drugs are thought to influence their somatic health and reproductive functions.