Repercusión en la densidad mineral ósea del tratamiento prolongado con monoterapia de valproato en niños con epilepsia

Objective: To determine whether children with epilepsy treated with valproate monotherapy for more than six months have changes in bone mineral density. Material and method: Comparative study, cross-matched for gender and age in 60 children, healthy children and for handling cases that received anti-epileptic valproate as the single for at least six months, the areas measured by the densitometer, were the lumbar region (L1 to L4) and hip. Results: We found by descriptive statistics, which matched samples were appropriately according to measures of age, weight, height, physical activity and intake of calcium, the average duration of treatment was 3.4 years. By applying analytical statistics was determined that children taking valproate have six times more likely to have osteopenia on those not taken and that this is more important in those who require high doses and for more time. Conclusion: Children who take valproate as monotherapy for more than six months have six times more risk of osteopenia compared with those not taking the drug.