Abstract
Antiepileptic drugs have been inconstantly reported to involve thyroid hormone synthesis and/or metabolism.
We have performed a TRH test in 25 children of both sexes, aged 5-13 1/2 years, clinically euthyroid, on unchanged monotherapy from the start (at least 2 years). Serum basal levels of TSH, T4, T3, TBG and serum TSH levels after TRH were assayed by commercial RIA kits. Statistical analyses included mean, SD, Student's t test.
Valproate-treated children (VPA-C) (10 subjects) showed TSH levels both before (p<0.05) and after TRH (p<0.01 or 0.001) higher than normal children (NC). Serum T4 levels in VPA-C, carbamazepine-treated children (CBZ-C) (7 subjects) (p<0.001) and phenobarbital-treated children (PB-C) (8 subjects) were lower than in NC (p<0.01). PB-C had higher T4 levels than CBZ-C (p<0.01).
Our data show a subclinical primary hypothyroidism in VPA-C. Low T4 with normal TBG and normal levels of TSH both before and after TRH in CBZ-C and PB-C could be explained by a decreased thyroidal synthesis and/or an enhanced peripheral metabolism with a concomitant depressive influence on hypothalamic-pituitary axis or a T3-depending cellular euthyroidism.
* Partially supported by a grant of Italian Ministry of Education
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cavallo, L., Specchio, L., Bratta, P. et al. HYPOPHYSEAL-THYROID AXIS FUNCTION IN EPILEPTIC CHILDREN ON ANTICONVULSANT MONOTHERAPIES. Pediatr Res 20, 1195 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00128
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00128