Effect of antiepileptic drug polytherapy on crystalluria

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a rare side effect of antiepileptic drugs. To clarify the risk factors for urolithiasis induced by antiepileptic drugs, the effect of antiepileptic drug monotherapy on crystalluria was studied, and zonisamide or sulthiame therapy and alkaline urine were demonstrated to be risk factors. In the next investigation, the effect of antiepileptic drug polytherapy on crystalluria was retrospectively studied in epilepsy patients treated for more than 1 month during the last 7 years. A total of 278 urine specimens from epilepsy patients aged between 7 months and 36 years were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 12.3 years. There were 109 samples from females and 169 from males. Antiepileptic drugs administered in this study were valproate (174 urinary samples), zonisamide (139), carbamazepine (138), phenobarbital (65), phenytoin (52), acetazolamide (17), clonazepam (15), sulthiame (6), ethosuximide (6), nitrazepam (4), and clobazam (4). Epilepsy patients treated with antiepileptic drug polytherapy were frequently found to have crystalluria in patients demonstrating alkaline urine and taking acetazolamide, zonisamide (particularly with high serum levels), or many antiepileptic drugs in combination. Regular urinalysis seems to be necessary in these patients, and the evaluation for urolithiasis should be performed if persistent crystalluria is demonstrated.