Levetiracetam monotherapy effect on serum calcium and serum vitamin D in patient of epilepsy

Background: Objective of the study was to determine the Levetiracetam monotherapy effect on serum calcium and serum vitamin D levels in tertiary care hospital in Haryana, India.Methods: A total of 110 patients with epilepsy, were enrolled to the study for one year between April 2013 to August 2014. All male patients aged 15-60 years and premenopausal females with epilepsy were included in the study. The study was a interventional prospective study design. The antiepileptic drug levetiracetam was administered starting from a dose of 20 mg/kg and dose was titrated according to the clinical response. During the follow up period, the subjects were asked about the seizure frequency and other side effects. The patients were be subjected to questionnaires based proforma. Baseline investigations, Hemogram, renal and liver function tests, calcium, phosphate, vitamin D and bone mineral density and T scores were noted. All investigations were repeated after one year of levetiracetam monotherapy.Results: The mean age of onset of seizures in the study group was 23.22±6.62 years. 58% (n=29) were seizure free after 1 year of levetiracetam monotherapy, 28% patients had adequate control and 14% patients had poor control of their seizure episodes. There was an insignificant change in Hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, platelet count, renal parameters and Liver enzymes from baseline over a year of levetiracetam therapy. Serum calcium levels increased insignificantly from baseline levels of 9.68±0.59 mg/dl to 9.72±0.56mg/dl. Vitamin D levels increased from baseline of 39.35±14.91ng/ml to 39.84±14.07 ng/ml. Bone mineral density increased insignificantly from baseline of 0.92±0.13 g/cm2 to 0.93±0.13 g/cm2.Conclusions: Present study has shown an overall beneficial effect on serum calcium, Vitamin D level, bone mineral density and T scores on DEXA scan

Association of SUMOlation Pathway Genes With Stroke in a Genome-wide Association Study in India

OBJECTIVE: To undertake a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants for stroke in an Indian population. METHODS: In a hospital-based case-control study, 8 teaching hospitals in India recruited 4,088 participants, including 1,609 stroke cases. Imputed genetic variants were tested for association with stroke subtypes using both single-marker and gene-based tests. Association with vascular risk factors was performed with logistic regression. Various databases were searched for replication, functional annotation, and association with related traits. Status of candidate genes previously reported in the Indian population was also checked. RESULTS: Associations of vascular risk factors with stroke were similar to previous reports and show modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, and alcohol consumption as having the highest effect. Single-marker–based association revealed 2 loci for cardioembolic stroke (1p21 and 16q24), 2 for small vessel disease stroke (3p26 and 16p13), and 4 for hemorrhagic stroke (3q24, 5q33, 6q13, and 19q13) at p < 5 × 10(−8). The index single nucleotide polymorphism of 1p21 is an expression quantitative trait locus (p(lowest) = 1.74 × 10(−58)) for RWDD3 involved in SUMOylation and is associated with platelet distribution width (1.15 × 10(−9)) and 18-carbon fatty acid metabolism (p = 7.36 × 10(−12)). In gene-based analysis, we identified 3 genes (SLC17A2, FAM73A, and OR52L1) at p < 2.7 × 10(−6). Eleven of 32 candidate gene loci studied in an Indian population replicated (p < 0.05), and 21 of 32 loci identified through previous GWAS replicated according to directionality of effect. CONCLUSIONS: This GWAS of stroke in an Indian population identified novel loci and replicated previously known loci. Genetic variants in the SUMOylation pathway, which has been implicated in brain ischemia, were identified for association with stroke