A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy

Introduction: Gingival overgrowth, a well-known side effect of chronic phenytoin therapy has also been known to be caused by other anti epileptic drugs (AED’s). Various factors like plaque, gingival inflammation, and periodontal health have been postulated to effect gingival overgrowth. Aim: To...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bharat Suneja, Saroj Chopra, Abi M Thomas, Jeyraj Pandian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2016-01-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/7069/16443_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(VSUAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf
_version_ 1828554224162570240
author Bharat Suneja
Saroj Chopra
Abi M Thomas
Jeyraj Pandian
author_facet Bharat Suneja
Saroj Chopra
Abi M Thomas
Jeyraj Pandian
author_sort Bharat Suneja
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Gingival overgrowth, a well-known side effect of chronic phenytoin therapy has also been known to be caused by other anti epileptic drugs (AED’s). Various factors like plaque, gingival inflammation, and periodontal health have been postulated to effect gingival overgrowth. Aim: To identify the AED having an effect on gingival overgrowth and to study the factors affecting it. Materials and Methods: Three groups of 30 children each on monotherapy of phenytoin, sodium valproate, and carbamazepine were longitudinally followed for six months. Their oral and epileptic health status was assessed and were monitored for change in plaque levels, gingival inflammation, probing depth and the status of gingival overgrowth at baseline, at the end of 3 months and finally at the end of 6 months. The data was recorded and statistically analysed. Results: Phenytoin caused gingival overgrowth in a significant number of children (53.6%) within 3 months. Sodium valproate also led to gingival overgrowth, but not upto statistically significant levels. Patients on carbamazepine did not show any signs of gingival overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth is seen more on buccal side, in the anterior segment and in the lower arch. No correlation could be found between, either plaque level, or gingival inflammation with gingival overgrowth. Probing depth could be positively correlated with gingival overgrowth. Conclusion: Phenytoin is the drug, which can be chiefly implicated for causing gingival overgrowth. Sodium valproate carries the potential for gingival overgrowth, although only up to clinically insignificant levels in 6 months. Carbamazepine can be considered a safe drug in children in relation to gingival overgrowth.
first_indexed 2024-12-12T05:32:10Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f55ed6d130ce4a84935c3729f7581b6d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2249-782X
0973-709X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T05:32:10Z
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
record_format Article
series Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
spelling doaj.art-f55ed6d130ce4a84935c3729f7581b6d2022-12-22T00:36:17ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2016-01-01101ZC32ZC3610.7860/JCDR/2016/16443.7069A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug TherapyBharat Suneja0Saroj Chopra1Abi M Thomas2Jeyraj Pandian3Professor, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, BJS Dental College, Ludhiana, India.Professor (Retd.), Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Christian Dental College, Ludhiana, India.Professor, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Christian Dental College, Ludhiana, India.Professor, Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India.Introduction: Gingival overgrowth, a well-known side effect of chronic phenytoin therapy has also been known to be caused by other anti epileptic drugs (AED’s). Various factors like plaque, gingival inflammation, and periodontal health have been postulated to effect gingival overgrowth. Aim: To identify the AED having an effect on gingival overgrowth and to study the factors affecting it. Materials and Methods: Three groups of 30 children each on monotherapy of phenytoin, sodium valproate, and carbamazepine were longitudinally followed for six months. Their oral and epileptic health status was assessed and were monitored for change in plaque levels, gingival inflammation, probing depth and the status of gingival overgrowth at baseline, at the end of 3 months and finally at the end of 6 months. The data was recorded and statistically analysed. Results: Phenytoin caused gingival overgrowth in a significant number of children (53.6%) within 3 months. Sodium valproate also led to gingival overgrowth, but not upto statistically significant levels. Patients on carbamazepine did not show any signs of gingival overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth is seen more on buccal side, in the anterior segment and in the lower arch. No correlation could be found between, either plaque level, or gingival inflammation with gingival overgrowth. Probing depth could be positively correlated with gingival overgrowth. Conclusion: Phenytoin is the drug, which can be chiefly implicated for causing gingival overgrowth. Sodium valproate carries the potential for gingival overgrowth, although only up to clinically insignificant levels in 6 months. Carbamazepine can be considered a safe drug in children in relation to gingival overgrowth.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/7069/16443_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(VSUAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdfcarbamezapinefactorsphenytoinsodium valproate
spellingShingle Bharat Suneja
Saroj Chopra
Abi M Thomas
Jeyraj Pandian
A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
carbamezapine
factors
phenytoin
sodium valproate
title A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
title_full A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
title_fullStr A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
title_full_unstemmed A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
title_short A Clinical Evaluation of Gingival Overgrowth in Children on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
title_sort clinical evaluation of gingival overgrowth in children on antiepileptic drug therapy
topic carbamezapine
factors
phenytoin
sodium valproate
url https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/7069/16443_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(VSUAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT bharatsuneja aclinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT sarojchopra aclinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT abimthomas aclinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT jeyrajpandian aclinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT bharatsuneja clinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT sarojchopra clinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT abimthomas clinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy
AT jeyrajpandian clinicalevaluationofgingivalovergrowthinchildrenonantiepilepticdrugtherapy