Evaluation of oral health status in patients receiving antiepileptic medications

Abstract

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder of incidence rate 1-2%. Genetic, congenital, developmental, tumors, head trauma and central nervous system infections maybe the cause of epilepsy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stomatitis, xerostomia and taste disorder among patients taking carbamazepine or sodium valproate and to make salivary analysis for IgA, cystatin c and salivary flow rate. Material and method:This study performed in al- Yarmuk teaching hospital in Baghdad, Samples consist of (70) epileptics half of them treated with carbamazepine and other half treated with sodium valproate, and (18) healthy control group of both genders and with different ages to detect the prevalence of oral manifestations, salivary IgA and cystatin C changes. Results: Salivary IgA is significantly higher in epileptics than healthy group. DMFT is significantly lower in epileptics than in healthy control. GI is hardly affected by epilepsy. Salivary flow rate was significantly lower in epileptics than the healthy control group. On the other hand, cystatin C was obviously higher in epileptics but failed to reach the level of statistical significance. Mucositis in epileptics was significantly higher. Candidal infection and Dysguisia failed to reach the level of statistical difference. Conclusion: The most affected oral measurement by epilepsy was salivary IgA then salivary flow rate followed by DMFT. Cystatin C had a marginal contribution to the context of case -control discrimination.Sodium valproate is safer than carbamazepine when compared by its effects on the oral health. Mucositis, candida infection and dysguisia were lower in epileptics who were treated with Sodium valproate. Salivary flow rate was higher in Sodium valproate - treated group than in carbamazepine group. GI and DMFT were lower in sodium valproate treated group than the