Anthropometric indexes, insulin resistance, and serum leptin and lipid levels in women with cryptogenic epilepsy receiving topiramate treatment

We aimed to investigate the effects of topiramate monotherapy on anthropometric indexes, insulin resistance, and serum leptin and lipid levels in 33 premenopausal women (mean age ± standard deviation: 26.7 ± 7.1 years) with cryptogenic epilepsy. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and serum leptin, insulin and lipid levels were measured at baseline and at 6 months after initiation of topiramate. We found reductions in BMI (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001) and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (p = 0.011). We also found significant improvements in insulin resistance (p = 0.023), but not in serum leptin levels (p = 0.45). Our results suggest that topiramate treatment in women with epilepsy is associated with reduced BMI and waist circumference and improvement in insulin resistance; however, according to our data, topiramate treatment is also associated with lower HDL cholesterol levels, which may substantially increase vascular disease.