Are the Effects of Old and New-Generation Antiepileptic Drugs on Hemogram Parameters Different?

Abstract

Aim: There are different comments related to hematological side effects caused by antiseizure drugs (ASDs). In our study, we investigated the effects of ASDs on hemogram parameters. Materials and Methods: Hemogram values of 293 patients including 156 women, who used ASDs for at least six months, were compared with the values of 36 healthy control participants group who did not. In addition, the hemogram values of the patients using old-generation antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), valproic acid were compared with those using new-generation antiepileptic drugs as levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, pregabalin (PGB), gabapentin and two ASDs in combination. Results: Comparison of the patients using ASDs with the control group revealed that white blood cell (WBC) values of only PHT users were lower than the control group (p=0.045). Red cell distribution width (RDW) values were found to be higher in healthy controls than those using AEDs (p lt;0.001). When the groups using ASDs were compared among themselves, it was found that the WBC values of the users of old- generation ASDs as PHT and CBZ were significantly lower than those using PGB (p=0.006; P=0.005, respectively). Conclusion: As hematological side effects, ASDs may decrease WBC counts. The WBC decreasing effects of PHT and CBZ, which are older generation antiepileptics, are more pronounced than pregabalin, which is a new- generation antiepileptic drug. The effects of antiepileptic drugs on hemogram parameters of the patients should be taken into consideration while choosing appropriate ASDs and also while following the patient.

Keywords

• antinöbet ilaçlar
• hemogram
• beyaz kan hücreleri
• rdw
• antiseizure drugs
• hemogram
• white blood cells
• rdw