Abstract

The aim of our research was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors on epileptic patients treated at the Fann University Hospital and to study the influence of haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism on disease progression. In order to do that, eighty-six (86) patients followed in neurology for at least 2 years were recruited. Each patient was matched to a control according to age and sex. Hp phenotyping was performed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, and lipid peroxidation was quantified by the dosage of the thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS). The determination of a number of biochemical parameters was performed in both patients and controls. The evaluation of lipid parameters showed significant differences in total cholesterol levels, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and atherogenic index between patients and controls. For C-Reactive Protein-ultra sensible (CRP-us) values greater than 3 mg / L, a statistically significant difference was found (p = 0.009). The frequencies of the three major phenotypes of patients compared to controls has shown significant difference only for Hp2-2 phenotype (p = 0.042). The significant increase of TBARS for patients compared to controls suggested an oxidative mechanism. Results have shown a risk of developing cardiovascular diseases during the progression of epilepsy. The influence of Hp polymorphism in modulating oxidative stress suggests that taking antioxidants may have a beneficial effect, especially in patients of phenotype Hp2-2.

Key words: Epilepsy, haptoglobin polymorphism, cardiovascular risks.