levetiracetam and Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome

To evaluate the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women of reproductive age with the use of antiepileptic drugs.. A systematic literature review of observational analytical studies (cohort, cross-sectional and case-control), from January 1966 to January 2021 on PCOS in women of reproductive age with the use of the antiepileptics. The search covered the Cochrane, MEDLINE, Embase and LILACS databases.. Studies reporting the frequency of PCOS with the antiepileptic drugs in women of reproductive age.. studies that did not have categorically relevant measurements, those published as abstracts only, and studies of investigational treatment. Data extraction was performed based on the PECOT strategy, considering the method of intervention, methodological quality, and presence of PCOS with the antiepileptic drugs.. A total of 2043 references were obtained from which 22 articles were selected by title and abstract. Four articles met the inclusion criteria. No articles were found describing the risk of PCOS upon exposure to levetiracetam, felbamate, gabapentin, lacosamide, pregabalin, rufinamide, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, or zonisamide. Only articles related to oxcarbazepine and lamotrigine were found, in which the frequency of PCOS was like that found in women without epilepsy.. The anticonvulsants are probably safer, but the risk of developing PCOS associated with the antiepileptics cannot be established, since there are insufficient studies.

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Lamotrigine; Levetiracetam; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study is aimed at comparing effects of older drugs like carbamazepine (CBZ) and newer agent like levetiracetam (LEV) on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women with epilepsy (WWE).. An interviewer-based questionnaire was used to obtain relevant clinical information from 50 WWE on CBZ and LEV monotherapy, respectively, and 50 age-matched controls. The diagnosis of epilepsy was clinical with electroencephalographic features taken into consideration and the seizures classified using the 2017 International League Against Epilepsy classification. The diagnosis of PCOS was based on the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology/American Society for Reproductive Medicine.. The frequency of PCOS and its subcomponent were higher among WWE compare to controls. PCOS was present in 22 (44%) of LEV group compare to 8 (16%) CBZ group. The frequency of its subcomponent was higher among those on LEV except for comparable effect with regard to oligomenorrhea. The levels of the sex steroid hormone were comparable in both groups of WWE except luteal phase luteinizing hormone, which was lower among the LEV group (P .001). The follicular phase estradiol level was lower (P .021), and follicle-stimulating hormone level was about 2-fold higher (P .03) among WWE compare to controls. The mean value testosterone was significantly lower among controls compared to WWE.. The increased frequency of PCOS and its subcomponent and the unsatisfactory effect of LEV compared to CBZ on reproductive endocrine function underscore the need for routine reproductive endocrine evaluation to improve overall quality of life.

Topics: Adult; Anticonvulsants; Carbamazepine; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Levetiracetam; Nigeria; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome