ESPE Abstracts

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse bone mineral status in children with epilepsy, on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) regimen, using serum calcium, 25 (OH) vitamin D and Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and compare these with age and sex matched controls.

Patients and Methods: This was a case - control study, conducted at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, from September 1 2018 to May 31 2019, with 200 (100 cases and 100 controls) participants, aged 1 - 18 years. Serum calcium, 25 (OH) vitamin D and BALP were analysed in children consecutively recruited using o-Cresolphthalein colorimetry for calcium, ELISA for BALP and 25 (OH) vitamin D. Student's t test was used to compare mean among cases and controls and correlation analysis to test relationships between variables.

Results: Serum calcium and vitamin D were significantly lower in cases, but BALP was higher (P > 0.001). Twenty two percent of cases were below normal vitamin D levels, as against 11% of controls (P = 0.05), while sixty two percent of cases had hypocalcaemia as against 27% of controls (p> 0.001). Cases receiving carbamazepine had lower vitamin D and calcium levels than those receiving phenobarbitone and sodium valproate, but those on sodium valproate had higher BALP. Children on polytherapy had lower vitamin D and calcium but higher BALP levels. Though not significant, there were negative correlations between BALP and vitamin D, but positive correlations between calcium and vitamin D and calcium and BALP