This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Jouko I. T. Isojärvi, MD, PhD; Arto J. Pakarinen, MD, PhD; Vilho V. Myllylä, MD, PhD

Arch Neurol. 1989;46(11):1175-1178.

Abstract
• The effects of carbamazepine monotherapy on thyroid function were evaluated in patients with epilepsy. A prospective follow-up of 40 patients with recently diagnosed epilepsy was carried out to evaluate the short-term effects. Thirtythree patients receiving long-term carbamazepine therapy (average duration, 4.2 years) and 34 healthy control subjects were studied. Levels of serum thyroxine, free thyroxine, and thyroxine binding globulin were decreased after both 2 and 12 months of therapy with carbamazepine. Low serum thyroxine and free thyroxine concentrations were also found after longterm monotherapy with carbamazepine. Baseline thyrotropin did not change during carbamazepine therapy, but thyrotropin responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone rose slightly. No correlation was found between serum carbamazepine and hormone concentrations. The results not only support previous suggestions that carbamazepine induces the hepatic clearance of thyroid hormones but also suggest that carbamazepine may have an inhibitory effect at the hypothalamic level.

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Neurology and Clinical Chemistry, University of Oulu (Finland)

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 20, 1989.

Reprint requests to Department of Neurology, University of Oulu, SF-90220, Oulu, Finland (Dr Isojärvi).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Thyroid hormones in children with epilepsy during long-term administration of carbamazepine and valproate
Verrotti et al.
Eur J Endocrinol 2009;160:81-86.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reproductive dysfunction in women with epilepsy
Isojarvi
Neurology 2003;61:S27-34.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Effects of Valproate, Carbamazepine, and Oxcarbazepine on Growth and Sexual Maturation in Girls With Epilepsy
Rättyä et al.
Pediatrics 1999;103:588-593.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Normal Serum Free Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Patients Treated With Phenytoin or Carbamazepine: A Paradox Resolved
Surks and DeFesi
JAMA 1996;275:1495-1498.
ABSTRACT  

Drugs and Thyroid Function
Surks and Sievert
NEJM 1995;333:1688-1694.
FULL TEXT  

Carbamazepine Increases Cerebrospinal Fluid Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Levels in Affectively Ill Patients
Marangell et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1994;51:625-628.
ABSTRACT  

Serum Lipid Levels During Carbamazepine Medication: A Prospective Study
Isojarvi et al.
Arch Neurol 1993;50:590-593.
ABSTRACT  

Testosterone, Free Testosterone, Non--Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin-Bound Testosterone, and Free Androgen Index: Which Testosterone Measurement Is Most Relevant to Reproductive and Sexual Function in Men With Epilepsy?-Reply
Isojarvi
Arch Neurol 1992;49:134-135.
ABSTRACT  

Serum Hormones in Male Epileptic Patients Receiving Anticonvulsant Medication
Isojarvi et al.
Arch Neurol 1990;47:670-676.
ABSTRACT