Levetiracetam and Valproic Acid: Effects on the Liver Functions and Ammonia Level in Children

Year 2014, Volume: 39 Issue: 1, 70 - 74, 22.07.2014

Faruk İncecik M. Özlem Hergüner Şakir Altunbaşak

https://doi.org/10.17826/cutf.00658

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Purpose: There is evidence that levetiracetam and valproic acid causes a changes of serum ammonia level and liver function tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the liver function parameters and ammonia level in children with seizures on treatment with levetiracetam in comparison treated with valproic acid. Materıals and Methods: Between March 2010 and October 2010, we treated 42 patients with epilepsy. We determined the serum concentration of antiepileptic drug, transaminases, g-glutamyl transferase, and ammonia level in 22 children treated with valproic acid, and in 20 children treated with levetiracetam. Results: There were no significant differences in the serum transaminases, g-glutamyl transferase between the patients treated with valproic acid, and the patients treated with levetiracetam. Hyperammonemia was detected in patients treated with valproic acid. Conclusıon: These results suggest that the treatment with levetiracetam does not alter the serum ammonia level, and liver functions.

Keywords

Levetiracetam, valproic acid, liver functions, ammonia.

Levetirasetam ve Valproik asid: Çocuklarda Karaciğer Fonksiyonları ve Amonyak Düzeyleri Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Levetirasetam ve valproik asidin, serum amonyak düzeyi ve karaciğer fonksiyon testlerinde bir değişikliğe neden olduğuna dair kanıtlar vardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, valproik asid tedavisi ile karşılaştırıldığında, levetirasetam ile tedavi edilen epilepsili çocuklarda karaciğer fonksiyon parametreleri ve amonyak düzeyinin belirlenmesidir. Materyal ve Metod: Mart 2010 ve Ekim 2010 tarihleri arasında, epilepsili 42 hasta tedavi ettik. Valproik asit ile tedavi edilen 22 çocuk ve levetirasetam ile tedavi edilen 20 çocuk çalışmaya alındı ve serum antiepileptik ilaç düzeyi, transaminazlar, G-glutamil transferaz ve amonyak düzeyleri değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Valproik asit ile tedavi edilen hastalar ile levetirasetam ile tedavi edilen hastalar arasında serum g-glutamil transferaz ve transaminaz düzeyleri arasında herhangi bir farklılık yoktu. Valproik asit ile tedavi edilen hastalarda hiperamonyemi tespit edildi. Sonuç: Bu sonuçlar, levetirasetam tedavisinin serum amonyak düzeyi ve karaciğer fonksiyonlarını değiştirmediğini düşündürmektedir.

Keywords

Levetirasetam, valproik asit, karaciğer fonksiyonları, amonyak.

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• Yazışma Adresi / Address for Correspondence: Dr. Faruk İncecik Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology 01330 Balcalı-ADANA e-mail: [e-mail] geliş tarihi/received :29.07.2013 kabul tarihi/accepted:02.09.2013