Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection

Objective: To determine the frequency and association of thrombocytopenia in patients on valproate therapy in the Pediatrics department of Pakistan Atomic Energy Hospital, Islamabad. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in the department of Paediatrics, PAEC General Hospital, I...

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Main Authors: Kiran Nayab, Qurrat ul Ain, Ayesha Tariq, Israr Liaqat, Samra Javed, Nadia Mumtaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rawalpindi Medical University 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College
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Online Access:https://www.journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/2616
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author Kiran Nayab
Qurrat ul Ain
Ayesha Tariq
Israr Liaqat
Samra Javed
Nadia Mumtaz
author_facet Kiran Nayab
Qurrat ul Ain
Ayesha Tariq
Israr Liaqat
Samra Javed
Nadia Mumtaz
author_sort Kiran Nayab
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To determine the frequency and association of thrombocytopenia in patients on valproate therapy in the Pediatrics department of Pakistan Atomic Energy Hospital, Islamabad. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in the department of Paediatrics, PAEC General Hospital, Islamabad from 06-June-2022 to 05-December-2022. A total of 125 diagnosed cases of epilepsy and valproic acid therapy were included. After written informed consent from parents/guardians, demographic details were noted, and patients underwent testing for platelet count and thrombocytopenia was labelled as a platelet count of <150000/µL. Results: The mean age of patients included in this study was 8.13±2.80 years. The mean duration of epilepsy was 3.44±1.56 years. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 31 (24.80%) patients on valproic acid therapy and a strong association between higher dosage of valproic acid and thrombocytopenia was observed (p <0.001). Conclusion: An increased risk of thrombocytopenia is observed when valproic acid is used as a monotherapy or a part of polytherapy.  Mostly this thrombocytopenia is not life-threatening but the importance of serial monitoring of platelet count during prolonged valproic acid use cannot be ignored due to the associated risk of bleeding, as children on higher doses of valproate are at greater risk of thrombocytopenia. Keywords: Epilepsy, Valproic Acid, Thrombocytopenia.
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issn 1683-3562
1683-3570
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publisher Rawalpindi Medical University
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spelling doaj-art-66931f21b1314892aa43950ff50d67242025-02-06T08:34:03ZengRawalpindi Medical UniversityJournal of Rawalpindi Medical College1683-35621683-35702025-01-0128410.37939/jrmc.v28i4.2616Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate ConnectionKiran NayabQurrat ul AinAyesha TariqIsrar Liaqat0 Samra JavedNadia MumtazShalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore Objective: To determine the frequency and association of thrombocytopenia in patients on valproate therapy in the Pediatrics department of Pakistan Atomic Energy Hospital, Islamabad. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in the department of Paediatrics, PAEC General Hospital, Islamabad from 06-June-2022 to 05-December-2022. A total of 125 diagnosed cases of epilepsy and valproic acid therapy were included. After written informed consent from parents/guardians, demographic details were noted, and patients underwent testing for platelet count and thrombocytopenia was labelled as a platelet count of <150000/µL. Results: The mean age of patients included in this study was 8.13±2.80 years. The mean duration of epilepsy was 3.44±1.56 years. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 31 (24.80%) patients on valproic acid therapy and a strong association between higher dosage of valproic acid and thrombocytopenia was observed (p <0.001). Conclusion: An increased risk of thrombocytopenia is observed when valproic acid is used as a monotherapy or a part of polytherapy.  Mostly this thrombocytopenia is not life-threatening but the importance of serial monitoring of platelet count during prolonged valproic acid use cannot be ignored due to the associated risk of bleeding, as children on higher doses of valproate are at greater risk of thrombocytopenia. Keywords: Epilepsy, Valproic Acid, Thrombocytopenia. https://www.journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/2616EpilepsyPlatelets countThrombocytopeniaValproate
spellingShingle Kiran Nayab
Qurrat ul Ain
Ayesha Tariq
Israr Liaqat
Samra Javed
Nadia Mumtaz
Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection
Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College
Epilepsy
Platelets count
Thrombocytopenia
Valproate
title Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection
title_full Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection
title_fullStr Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection
title_short Unveiling Thrombocytopenia Trends In Pediatric Epilepsy: The Valproate Connection
title_sort unveiling thrombocytopenia trends in pediatric epilepsy the valproate connection
topic Epilepsy
Platelets count
Thrombocytopenia
Valproate
url https://www.journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/2616
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