Evaluation of the effects of antiepileptic drugs on complete blood count parameters

Haticenur Kırar; Emine Türkkan; Tuğçe Aksu Uzunhan; Alper Kaçar; Soner Sazak; Okan Dikker; Hüseyin Dağ

doi:10.28982/josam.827657

Authors

Haticenur Kırar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7549-6886
Emine Türkkan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5126-7843
Tuğçe Aksu Uzunhan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0596-2690
Alper Kaçar https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7577-5386
Soner Sazak https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0233-6950
Okan Dikker https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9153-6139
Hüseyin Dağ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7596-7687

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.827657

Keywords:

antiepileptic drug, child, complete blood count

Abstract

Aim: The incidence of pediatric epilepsy ranges between 1-3%, and various anticonvulsant drugs are used in its treatment. Seizure type, effectiveness and side effects are important in drug selection. Various hematological side effects of anticonvulsants have been reported. This study aims to determine the hematological side effects of the anticonvulsants used in our clinic. Methods: A total of 87 epilepsy patients between the ages of 1 and 15 years, who were diagnosed and followed up in the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Health Sciences University, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital between January 2017-2018 and who received anticonvulsant medication for at least 3 months were included in this study. The blood values and hematological side effects of the anticonvulsants were noted from the patient files. The statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics v.22 (SPSS IBM, Turkey). Results: Among all, 44.8% of the patients were using Valproic acid (VPA), 28.7%, Levetiracetam (LEV), 12.6%, Oxcarbazepine (OXC), 8%, Phenobarbital (PB), and 4.6%, Carbamazepine (CBZ). Platelet values were below 150,000/ul in 7.6% of VPA users and 14.2% of PB users. The hemoglobin value fell below 10 g/dl in 2.5% of VPA users, 14.2% of PB users, and 8% of LEV users. Absolute neutrophil count fell below 1500/ul in 9% of the patients using OXC and 14.2% of those using PB. The decrease in platelet values before and after anticonvulsant use was statistically significant (P=0.039), while the decrease in hemoglobin and neutrophil values were not. Conclusion: In patients using antiepileptic drugs, complete blood count may be affected. Periodic monitoring of blood parameters is important in the close follow-up of patients. It is not known exactly how and how often the hematological side effects of antiepileptic drugs take place. Future studies on this subject are necessary.

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