Expressions of progestrone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum of epileptic children

Abstract

Objective To detect the serum levels of progestrone (Prog) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and to explore the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on the levels of Prog and DHEAS in epileptic children. Methods A total of 175 cases of prepuberty epilepsy before treatment and 66 cases prepuberty healthy children in the same ages were selected as the objects, the serum Prog and Log(DHEAS) levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. In the 175 patients, 96 patients received monotherapy with oxcarbazepine (OXC, OXC group), lamotrigine (LTG, LTG group) and sodium valproic acid (VPA, VPA group), and the changes of sex hormone were determined at 4 months after treatment. Results 1. The level of Prog in epileptic children decreased after birth and increased after 9 years old in healthy control group and epileptic children. The level of Prog was significantly lower in epileptic female children than that in healthy control group with the same age (P 0.05). And the serum Prog and Log (DHEAS) were lower after treatment than those before treatment in VPA group (all P 0.05). Conclusions The changes of Prog and Log (DHEAS) could be used to predict early reproductive system diseases in epileptic female children and carry on the early intervention therapy. It is may be inferred that epilepsy influences less on the sex hormone of boys. Epilepsy influences the physiological changes of DHEAS in male children probably. It may adjust medication according to the levels of Prog and DHEAS in clinical practice. Key words: Epilepsy; Progesterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; Child