Growth in Children on Long-Term Anti-Epileptic Treatment

Growth was evaluated by a retrospective cross-sectional study in 85 Japanese epileptic children [Age (M±SD): 13.1±3.48 y] on long tern anti-epileptic treatment (AET) (mean 9.25± 5.25 y). The causes of the epilepsy were idiopathic andorganic in 71.6% (61/85) and 28.4% (24/ 85), respectively. Height SD score was -0.04±1.17 in males and -0.36±1.28 in females (p=. 19). The height SD score was not significantly related to etiology (p=. 21), epilepsy type (p=. 12), or kind of AET (p=. 50). A significant positive correlation between height SD score and seizure-free time (S-FT) (r=. 51, p=. 0021) was observed. The incidence of short stature (height -2 (group B), while the age at starting AET was not significantly different between the two groups (4.9±2.8 y vs. 5.8±3.3 y, p=0.12). Furthermore, the subjects of group A showed significantly decreased serum basal TSH, LH and LH to FSH ratios than those of group B. These results suggest that growth in children with epilepsy is frequently delayed. This may be due to earlier onset of the epilepsy and a shorter seizure-free time.