Assessment of Topiramate VS Valproate Effects on Serum Lipid Profile in Young Adults with Epilepsy : A Retrospective Study

Aims : to assess and compare lipid profile indices (serum total cholesterol TC, triglycerides TG, low density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-c, high density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-c, and atherogenic index AI) in epileptic patients receiving valproate and topiramate monotherapy for at least six months, taking dosage and length of treatment into account, in comparison to healthy controls.
Methods: This study, which took place between the first of December 2012 and the 30th of April 2013, used a retrospective, cross-sectional, case series design.
The study involved 78 epileptic patients who had been separated into two groups.37 epileptic patients in group one were receiving TPM alone, while 41 epileptic patients were receiving VPA monotherapy. 40 healthy people of equal age and sex were used as controls in this investigation. Both patients and controls had fasting blood samples drawn for the assessment of serum lipid parameters.
Results : We observed statistically significant lower serum TC levels at a dose level of 200 mg TPM with a significant lower levels of TC,TG and HDL-c levels among patients receiving VPA at dose greater than 400mg /day .
There were no statistically significant differences in the lipid profiles of the two groups of epileptic patients.
Conclusions : In epileptic patients the use of TPM at a dose of 200mg /day was associated with significant decrease in TC with no changes in other lipid profile parameters while the use of VPA at a dose greater than 400 mg /day was associated with a significant decrease in TC, TG and HDL-c.