Assessment of Plasma Aminotransferases, Alkaline Phosphatase and Albumin in Epileptic Children Treated with Sodium Valproate

Abstract

Background and Aim of the study: anti-epileptic drug therapy such as sodium valproate (VPA) may had adverse effect on hepatic function, liver enzymes reflect liver dysfunction and may be useful in detecting early hepatocellular injury. The aim of this study was to assess of plasma Aminotransferases (AST, ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activities, Total protein (TP) and Albumin (Alb) concentrations in epileptic children used sodium valproate. Materials and Methods: this was a comparative cross-sectional study enrolled of 80 Sudanese children; 40 epileptic children (22 boys, 18girl), age range from (4-17) years from Mohammed Elamin Hamid hospital in Khartoum state, 40 children apparently health as control group. The plasma was separated and used to measure total protein, albumin concentrations and AST, ALT and ALP activities, they were assayed biochemically using Mindray full automation, data was analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results: showed there was significant increase in means of plasma AST (30.4± 12.1 U/L), ALT (17± 4.2 U/L) and ALP activities (232±103.9 U/L,) P ≤ 0. 05 respectively in epileptic children used VPA when compared with means in control group AST (25.1±5.7 U/L), ALT (17 ± 4.2 U/L), ALP (189.3 ± 20.4 U/L). Insignificant change in means of plasma total protein (7.3± 0.5 g/dL) and albumin concentrations (4±0.3 g/dL) in patient when compared with control (Alb (40.8 ± 0.3 g/dL), TP (74.6 ± 0.5 g/dL). Conclusion: plasma Aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and alkaline Phosphatase activities increase among Sudanese epileptic children on VPA treatment in this study.