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Longer Term Older Epilepsy Med Usage Linked to Hardening of Arteries
November 21, 2011Send to a Friend
According to new research published in Epilepsia, the journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), patients with epilepsy who were treated with some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for extended periods of time may be at increased risk for developing atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis refers to an hardening of the arteries in the body. It occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries and form hard structures called plaques. Over time, these plaques can block the arteries and cause symptoms and problems throughout the body. This is a common disorder, and often occurs with aging.
The study reveals that the risk of developing atherosclerosis is substantially linked to the use of certain AEDs. The medications that were studied are: valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene), phenytoin (Dilantin) carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Carbatrol), and phenobarbital. This study followed adults who were taking only one of these medications (monotherapy) in addition to a control group of adults without epilepsy who were not taking AEDs.
Dr. Yao-Chung Chuang from Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan and his research team compared the long-term impact of these medications on atherosclerosis development. They enrolled 160 adults with epilepsy who had undergone AED monotherapy for over 2 years, together with 60 healthy controls. In this study they measured and compared participants' common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness (IMT).
Dr. Chuang stated: "Our study found patients with epilepsy who were under long-term monotherpy with phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproic acid displayed significantly increased CCA IMT measurements. These altered circulatory markers from prolonged AED therapy may accelerate the atherosclerotic process."
In addition, the researchers also examined particular risk factors linked to types of AED therapy. They found that those taking carbamazepine or phenytoin had different mechanisms that could lead to a hardening of the arties vs. those taking valproic acid.
The authors' strongly recommend that the AED(s) for epilepsy patients in need of long-term treatment must be carefully selected, especially in elderly patients or those at high-risk of atherosclerosis.
If you are one of these medications, it is a good idea to speak to your doctor whether another AED would be better for you, particularly if you have a family history of heart disease.
It is also important to note that anyone can reduce their risk of atherosclerosis, through some simple lifestyle changes. This includes regular exercise, healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.
Adapted from an article written by Petra Rattue in Medical News Today
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