Effect of Long-Term Carbamazepine and Valproic Acid Treatment on Body Mass Index and Plasma Lipid Levels Research Article

Objective: Long-term treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproic acid (VPA) is associated with many metabolic changes that influence the serum levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides and the body mass index (BMI). The aim is to evaluate the serum lipids and BMI in adult epileptic patients on long-term CBZ or VPA monotherapy.Methods: To evaluate the serum lipids and BMI in adult epileptic patients onlong-term CBZ or VPA monotherapy.Results: Total cholesterol and LDL levels were significantly higher in patients receiving CBZ, while HDL values were found to be significantly lower in patients receiving VPA. Statistically significant differences were not found between the patient and control groups in terms of BMI.Conclusion: These data suggest that long-term VPA treatment significantly correlated with decreased HDL levels, while CBZ treatment significantly correlated with elevation in the values of total cholesterol and LDL. Long-term CBZ or VPA treatment do not seem to affect the BMI. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2011; 48: 103-6)