Sex, Drugs, and Epilepsy
Year: 2004
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate testicular function in men with epilepsy treated with different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) versus no drugs.METHODS: Two hundred men with epilepsy (mean age, 36 years) were investigated.Inclusion criteria included one or no AEDs, no comedication, and no endocrine comorbidity.Findings were compared with those from 105 healthy men (mean age, 33.9 years).Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), free testosterone (free T), and inhibin B were measured.RESULTS: One hundred seventy-eight men had focal epilepsy (117 of these had temporal lobe epilepsy [TLE]) and 22, idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE).Thirtythree men were not taking an AED; 124 men received enzyme-inducing AEDs.Free T was lowered in all patient subgroups, and the T/LH ratio was lowered in all groups except patients with IGE and patients receiving valproate (VPA).T was lower in patients with temporal than extratemporal focal epilepsy.Compared with TLE patients taking carbamazepine (CBZ), patients treated with VPA had higher total T and lower LH values, resulting in a significantly lower T/LH ratio with CBZ.CONCLUSIONS: Epilepsy, especially TLE, adversely affects testicular endocrine function.CBZ may increase the negative effects of epilepsy on serum levels of reproductive hormones.
Author: Cynthia L. Harden
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2132419305