Abstract
Objectives: To assess the effect of carbamazepine on full blood count in
epileptic patients.
Patients and Methods: This study was done in the Outpatient department of Ibn–
Sina Hospital in Mosul, during the period from October ٢٠٠٤ to September ٢٠٠٥.
Epileptic patients under oral carbamazepine therapy (٢٠٠-١٢٠٠ mg/day) were
included in this study. The patients were ٤٤ males and ٢٦ females. The duration of
treatment was between ١–٣٠ years. The control subjects included ٤١ males and ٣٥
females. They were apparently healthy subjects. Blood samples were taken from
patients and controls and analyzed for full blood count including hemoglobin (Hb),
mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC),
mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), red cell distribution width (RDW), red blood cell count
(RBC count), hematocrit % (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC count) and platelets.
Results: In both male and female patients, Hb was significantly lower than that in the
control group, respectively. The other measurements of full blood count, there were
no significant differences compared with the control group in both male and female,
respectively.
Conclusion: Chronic use of carbamazepine in epileptic patients is relatively safe on
full blood count. Periodical examination of full blood count is necessary for epileptic
patients under carbamazepine therapy.
