Effect of epilepsy and antiepileptic drug therapy on erythrocyte malondialdehyde and some antioxidants in persons with epilepsy

Background Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are very necessary for successful treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy and some AEDs are said to provoke or worsen seizure frequency by altering blood levels of some antioxidants. Objective This study investigated the effect of epilepsy and AEDs on blood levels of some oxidants and antioxidants. Methodology Blood samples were obtained from 35 AED-experienced PWE; 35 AED-naive PWE; and 35 age- and- sex matched apparently healthy controls; and analysed for malondialdehyde and antioxidants (uric acid, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results One-hundred and five subjects (35 patients on AEDs, 35 newly diagnosed, AED-naive and 35 healthy controls) were investigated. The median ages of AEDs-experienced; AED-naive and healthy participants were 30.0, 26.0 and 37.0 years respectively. PWE had significantly higher blood levels of malondialdehyde and uric acid and lower levels of enzymatic antioxidants than healthy controls. Also, PWE on AED polytherapy had significantly higher blood levels of malondialdehyde and uric acid, and lower levels of enzymatic antioxidants than AED-naive PWE and PWE on AED monotherapy respectively. Conclusion Epilepsy and AEDs significantly altered blood levels of malondialdehyde, uric acid and enzymatic antioxidants and/or their homeostatic kinetics; thus the need for constant monitoring of their levels in PWE, particularly those on AED polytherapy.