The effect of anticonvulsant drugs on thymidine and deoxyribosenucleic acid synthesis by human marrow cells.

Abstract

An abnormal deoxyuridine suppression test was found in treated epileptic patients that did not correlate with other evidence of abnormal folate metabolism. Diphenylhydantoin at a level of 100 microgram/ml interfered with the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA. It is suggested that anticonvulsants may exert their effect at a stage of DNA synthesis beyond that at which folate coenzymes operate. Folate deficiency may then arise as a result of death of cells in vivo causing an increased folate requirement.