Polycystic Ovaries and Hyperandrogenism in Women Taking Valproate for Epilepsy

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 329; no. 19; pp. 1383 - 1388
• Main Authors: Isojarvi, Jouko, Laatikainen, Timo J, Pakarinen, Arto J, Juntunen, Kaisa, Myllyla, Vilho V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 04.11.1993
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amenorrhea; Analysis of Variance; Androgens; Antiepileptic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Carbamazepine; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Convulsions & seizures; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug therapy; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Endocrine disorders; Epilepsies, Partial - drug therapy; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Generalized - blood; Epilepsy, Generalized - drug therapy; Female; Hormones; Humans; Hyperandrogenism - chemically induced; Medical sciences; Menstruation; Menstruation Disturbances - chemically induced; Middle Aged; Neurology; Ovaries; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - blood; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - chemically induced; Testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Toxicity: urogenital system; Ultrasound; Vagina; Valproic acid; Valproic Acid - adverse effects; Valproic Acid - therapeutic use; Women; Finland; Endocrinopathy; Human; Nervous system diseases; Toxicity; Epilepsy; Sex; Anticonvulsant; Polycystic ovary; Genital diseases; Female genital diseases; Treatment; Female; Hyperandrogenism
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199311043291904

Reproductive endocrine disorders occur more frequently among women and men with epilepsy than among normal subjects 1 – 3 . In women these disorders have generally been attributed to the epilepsy itself, 2 , 3 rather than to any antiepileptic treatment. Both partial and generalized seizures, and perhaps interictal epileptic discharges as well, can increase the secretion of various pituitary hormones, such as gonadotropins and prolactin, 4 – 6 and alter, perhaps even permanently, the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis 2 , 3 . Antiepileptic-drug therapy is associated with changes in the serum concentrations of sex hormones. Antiepileptic medications that induce liver enzymes also increase the serum concentrations . . .