Plasma HDL Cholesterol and Growth Hormone in Epileptics Treated with Anticonvulsants

: Plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and serum growth hormone (GH) levels were determined in 166 epileptic patients undergoing anticonvulsant treatment and in 54 healthy controls. HDL cholesterol and GH levels were high in epileptics when compared to the levels in controls. Nineteen out of 31 patients (61%) with elevated GH had elevated plasma HDL cholesterol concentration. This relationship in patients with normal GH was 34/135 (25 %). In female epileptics with elevated GH plasma HDL cholesterol was in positive relationship to serum GH level (r = 0.47, P<0.05). The increase in GH secretion in epileptics might be associated with an increase in hepatic production of HDL.