The Impact of Antiepileptic Drugs on Thyroid Function in Children with Epilepsy: New Versus Old

 Abstract ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of traditional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) versus newer AEDs on the thyroid hormone profile of children with epilepsy.Materials & MethodsA total of 80 children with epilepsy were included in this study and were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 40 children with epilepsy on traditional AEDs, and group 2 included 40 children with epilepsy on newer AEDs. Forty healthy children were also included as the control group (group 3). We analyzed the serum levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).Results: Epileptic children treated with traditional drugs showed a statistically significant decrease in the serum fT4 and increase in TSH concentrations compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Whereas epileptic children treated with newer drugs showed no statistically significant changes in the serum fT3, fT4 and TSH concentrations compared to the control group Conclusions: Traditional AEDs have a significant impact in the thyroid hormone profile compared to the newer AEDs

Risk Factors of Intractable Epilepsy in Children with Cerebral Palsy.: Risk factors and intractable epilepsy.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the risk factors predicting the development of intractable epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy taking into consideration perinatal characteristics; seizure semiology, imaging, and EEG findings. Materials & Methods: This descriptive, retrospective, case-control study was conducted on 106 children with CP and epilepsy in the period from 2015-2020. They were 46 children with CP and intractable epilepsy and 60 children with CP and controlled epilepsy. Data were retrieved through medical files review. We collected and analyzed data related to demographics, clinical characteristics, perinatal history, etiology of seizure and CP, seizure semiology, intellectual functions, therapeutic options, brain imaging, and EEG findings. Results: We established a model of the most important risk factors that are predictive of intractable epilepsy in children with CP. This predictive model includes the additive effect of a poor Apgar score at 5 minutes, the presence of neonatal seizures, focal epilepsy, and focal slowing on the EEG background (Area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.810).   conclusion: Our results are helpful to identify intractable epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy with further support by offering early therapeutic interventions to reduce the burden of refractory seizures in children with CP