Metabolic and Menstrual Disturbances in Women with Epilepsy

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 24(3); 2006 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2006;24(3): 239-244.

여성 간질 환자의 대사장애 및 월경장애

김지영, 이진화 김숙희 이향운

이화여자대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 의과학연구소

Metabolic and Menstrual Disturbances in Women with Epilepsy

Jee Young Kim

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University and Ewha Medical Research Institute

Abstract

Background: Women with epilepsy tend to have hormonal and metabolic disturbances. This study was performed to investigate whether epileptic women with specific epileptic syndromes or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are at risk for metabolic and/or menstrual abnormalities.
Methods: Women with epilepsy aged 15 to 50 years old, currently on AED medications for more than 6 months, were recruited for this study. Subjects checked their oral temperature each morning. Serum tests for lipid profiles, insulin, glucose, and leptin were performed on menstrual cycle days 2 to 3. HOMA-index, as a marker of insulin resistance, was calculated.
Results: In total 57 patients, 19 women were diagnosed as primary generalized epilepsy (PGE) and the other 38 as localization-related epilepsy (LRE). Among them, 42 patients were on monotherapy; 19 women on carbamazepine (CBZ), 12 on valproate (VPA), and 11 on lamotrigine (LTG). Body mass index increased in VPA group (24.43±3.61) compared to CBZ (22.03±2.45) or LTG (21.68±2.14) group (p=0.046), and metabolic syndrome was more commonly associated in VPA group (5/12, 41.7%) than in CBZ (1/19, 5.3%) or LTG (0%) group (p=0.005). Epileptic women on VPA experienced menstrual irregularity (7/12, 58.8%) more frequently, compared to CBZ (4/19, 21.1%) or LTG (3/11, 27.3%) group (p=0.089). No differences were observed between PGE and LRE groups.
Conclusions: Women with epilepsy on VPA tend to be more obese, and more frequently have metabolic and/or menstrual abnormalities than epileptic women on CBZ or LTG..KeyWords:Epilepsy, Menstrual, Metabolic, Antiepileptic drugs