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Anti-epileptic medication and bone health

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Abstract

Background

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder, usually requiring long-term treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (AED). Many studies have reported that AED therapy is associated with metabolic bone disease and is a major iatrogenic risk factor for fractures. There remains uncertainty about the type(s) of bone disease due to AED treatment, and the pathogenesis of AED-associated fractures.

Rationale

Deficits in bone mineral density (BMD) are widely reported in AED-treated patient populations. However, much of the research conducted to date has been limited by factors such as small sample size, potentially biased subject selection, a lack of selection of appropriate control data, and failure to take account of important confounding influences. The pathogenesis of AED-associated fractures is likely to be multifactorial, due to factors including reduced BMD, impaired bone quality (due to osteoporosis and/or osteomalacia), increased propensity to fall, and fractures associated with seizures or loss of consciousness.

Recommendations

Patients receiving long-term AED should be monitored for indices of bone health, including BMD and vitamin D status. Lifestyle factors should be optimized, vitamin D status maintained, and fall prevention strategies introduced as appropriate. Good seizure control is important. The use of additional, specific osteoporosis therapy is not evidence-based in this setting, but would appear reasonable in patients with clinically significant decreases in BMD, applying current treatment guidelines for osteoporosis.

Conclusion

There is a pressing need for improved understanding of the pathogenesis of AED-associated bone disease, for better definition of the risk associated with specific AED regimens, and for the development of evidence-based preventive and treatment approaches in this common but neglected disorder.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Epilepsy Association, the Victor Hurley Research Fund of Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. Sandra J. Petty was supported by a postgraduate medical research scholarship of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, 3050, Australia

    S. J. Petty

  2. University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, 3050, Australia

    T. J. O’Brien

  3. University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, and Bone and Mineral Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, 3050, Australia

    J. D. Wark

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  1. S. J. Petty
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  2. T. J. O’Brien
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  3. J. D. Wark
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Correspondence to J. D. Wark.

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Petty, S.J., O’Brien, T.J. & Wark, J.D. Anti-epileptic medication and bone health. Osteoporos Int 18, 129–142 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0185-z

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