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Serum Folate Levels During Anticonvulsant Therapy with Diphenylhydantoin
Author(s) -
HAGHSHENASS M.,
RAO DODDA B.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1973.tb01691.x
Subject(s) - medicine , macrocytosis , anticonvulsant , folic acid , megaloblastic anemia , anemia , serum iron , phenytoin , epilepsy , serum concentration , drug , gastroenterology , endocrinology , pharmacology , psychiatry
In chronic disease hospitals, diphenylhydantoin (DPH) is widely used as an anticonvulsant drug. During prolonged treatment with DPH, low serum folate levels and occasionally megaloblastic anemia may develop. This study involved the evaluation of serum folate, iron, total iron‐binding capacity and the hemogram in 27 patients with seizure disorders who were treated with DPH (100 mg three times daily), and 25 patients who served as controls. The dietary intakes of iron, folic acid and vitamin C were adequate, but the serum folate level was extremely low in most of the DPH patients, particularly those aged 60 or older. No macrocytosis was observed during the three‐month study period.