Effect of carbamazepine therapy on erythrocyte and plasma antioxidant levels in children with benign partial epilepsy

Abstract

The brain mechanisms underlying epilepsy are not completely understood, although there is evidence that there is increased lipid peroxidation in neurological diseases. There also appears to be a membrane abnormality in epilepsy. Carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy in epileptic children with benign partial epilepsy has significantly increased osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation of their red blood cells (RBC). The present study suggests that long-term CBZ treatment may induce oxidative stress in the RBC which results in a compensatory response in antioxidant enzymes.