The HDL cholesterol level in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs

: Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol were estimated in individuals undergoing anticonvulsant therapy. Significantly higher, than in the corresponding control groups HDL concentration, concerning mainly HDL2 subfraction was found in female epileptic and in male alcoholic epileptic patients. It was observed that higher drug levels were accompanied by higher HDL cholesterol values. In alcohol addicted subjects undergoing anticonvulsant therapy low-nontherapeutic serum drug concentration was often observed. In spite of this, HDL levels were high. This could result from an additional induction of cytochrome P-450 caused by alcohol and an accelerated oxidation of the drugs. This observation indicates that frequent control of drug concentration in these patients is desirable.