Objective: The aim of our meta-analysis was to assess the effects of antiepileptic drugs on bone mineral density and bone metabolism in epileptic children.
Methods: Searches of PubMed and Web of Science were undertaken to identify studies evaluating the association between antiepileptic drugs and bone mineral density and bone metabolism.
Results: A total of 22 studies with 1492 subjects were included in our research. We identified: (1) a reduction in bone mineral density at lumbar spine (standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-0.61, -0.05]), trochanter (mean difference (MD)=-0.07, 95% CI [-0.10, -0.05]), femoral neck (MD=-0.05, 95% CI [-0.09, -0.02]), and total body bone mineral density (MD=-0.33, 95% CI [-0.51, -0.15]); (2) a reduction in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (MD=-3.37, 95% CI [-5.94, -0.80]) and an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (SMD=0.71, 95% CI [0.38, 1.05]); (3) no significant changes in serum parathyroid hormone, calcium, or phosphorus.
Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that treatment with antiepileptic drugs may be associated with decreased bone mineral density in epileptic children.
Keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Bone metabolism; Bone mineral density; Children; Meta-analysis.