Abstract
We evaluated the effect of topiramate (TPM) on body constitution in 40 children with epilepsy aged from 1 to 14 years, retrospectively. Individual body mass index (BMI) was transformed to the standard deviation score (SDS), and we derived gender- and age-specific value for each subject. BMI SDS was -0.49±1.80 (mean±SD) at the baseline, -0.92±2.01 at six months and -1.13±2.39 at 12 months. ANOVA revealed a significant reduction in BMI SDS from baseline to follow-up (p=0.0170). From baseline to six months, BMI SDS increased in 12/40 patients (30%) and decreased in 28/40 (70%). We evaluated the effects of gender, age, epileptic syndrome classification, dose of TPM, number of preceding anticonvulsants, concomitance with valproic acid and baseline BMI SDS. None of the factors revealed a significant effect on BMI SDS. In conclusion, BMI SDS is a useful value to evaluate changes in body constitution in children. The growth of children being treated with TPM should be carefully observed.
