Funct Neurol
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Comparative Study
The effect of chronic carbamazepine, valproic acid and phenytoin medication on the periodontal condition of epileptic children and adolescents.
Periodontal condition was studied in 84 epileptic 8-18 year-old patients who had been undergoing antiepileptic drug (AEP) treatment for a period of at least 3 years. They were diagnosed as suffering from partial seizures (simplex or complex) or general tonic-clonic fits and were treated with therapeutic oral doses of phenytoin (PHT) and carbamazepine (CBZ) or valproic acid (VPA) in mono- or polytherapy. All patients received a drug dosage to ensure adequate plasma concentration and satisfactory seizure control. ⋯ Only the Pl-I was similar in both groups. Gingival enlargement was found in 30% of the epileptic patients. There was no definite plasma concentration-dependent increase in the incidence of gingival overgrowth.