Obesity, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and Thyroid Dysfunction in Women with Epilepsy

In a 2012 study involving 60 women with epilepsy (WWE) aged 13-45 on monotherapy with Carbamazepine (CBZ), Sodium Valproate (VAL), or Phenytoin (DPH), researchers found that WWE on VAL and CBZ had significantly higher mean BMI compared to those on DPH, but this did not result in a higher incidence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) across the three medication groups. Elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were more common in WWE on drug therapy, particularly in the VAL group, compared to healthy controls. The study concluded that while VAL and CBZ are associated with weight gain, they do not increase the incidence of PCOS, and that WWE on VAL are more likely to have elevated TSH levels, suggesting a need for further research on the impact of valproate therapy on thyroid function. The study's limitations include its small sample size and cross-sectional design.