Serum insulin, cortisol, leptin, neuropeptide Y, galanin and ghrelin levels in epileptic children receiving oxcarbazepine

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate whether oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy causes weight gain in epileptic children. Methods A total of 22 children with epilepsy (age 3.0–16.4 years) were assigned to OXC therapy. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin and ghrelin were assessed before OXC therapy (month 0) and after the 6th and 18th months. Results There was no statistically significant difference in weight–standard deviation score (SDS), Height–SDS, BMI–SDS, serum glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, NPY, galanin and ghrelin levels between initial values (month 0) and those in the 6th and 18th months after OXC therapy (p > 0.05). Conclusions Our results indicate that OXC therapy causes neither weight change nor alterations in serum glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, NPY, galanin and ghrelin levels in children with epilepsy.