The Effect of Chronic Levetiracetam Use on Erythrocyte Deformability

Abstract

Background: The inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes is one of the targets in the development of new antiepileptics. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a new-generation antiepileptic drug frequently used in pediatric patients. It has a strong inhibitory effect on CA enzymes in many tissues, including erythrocytes. Objective: Due to CA enzymes have physical connection with the erythrocyte membrane and cytoskeleton, we aimed to evaluate the probable effect of LEV on the erythrocyte deformability. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Experimental Animal Laboratory of Ankara Training and Research Hospital 24 prepubertal female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups with six animals in each group. Group I: Control (distilled water), Group II: LEV50 (50 mg/kg/day), Group III: LEV150 (150 mg/kg/day), Group IV: LEV300 (300 mg/kg/day). The calculated dose for each animal was given by oral gavage once a day for 14 days, which is accepted as chronic use in experimental models. At the end of the treatment period, erythrocyte deformability was evaluated both with whole blood viscosity at high shear rates, and osmotic fragility test. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of osmotic fragility. Whole blood and plasma viscosity values also did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: In this study, it has been shown that LEV does not have a negative effect on erythrocyte deformability. Therefore, we thought that it may be a good choice when an antiepileptic is needed in pediatric patients with hematological disorders.

Keywords

• carbonic anhydrase enzyme
• erythrocyte deformability
• levetiracetam