CASUAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GINGIVAL INDEX SCORE AMONG EPILEPTIC PATIENTS USING CARBAMAZEPINE, SODIUM VALPROATE AND PHENYTOIN

Objective: This research hoped to compare the periodontal health of epileptic patients using three different anti-epilepsy drugs, namely, carbamazepine, phenytoin and sodium valproateusing the gingival index score. Methodology: This casual comparative analysis of periodontal health was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital from January to March (2017) upon 3 groups of patients, each using a different anti-epileptic drug. The groups comprised of 15 patients each and the groups were matched for age, sex and duration of drug therapy. All recordings made on the gingival index score on each patien t were carried out by two independent observers and neither of the observers knew what anti-epilepsy therapy the patients were taking. The observers had tools (other than the gingival index score and visual comparison chart) such as mouth mirror and periodontal pr obe at their disposal. Informed (written) consent was taken from the subjects and the data collected was analyzed using SPSS v. 21.0 and MS. Excel 2016. It was ensured through rigorous questioning that the patients had each been using anti-epilepsy drug monotherapy i.e. the patients had been using only one of the aforementioned drugs. This ensured the validity and reliability of the results. Result: Differences were observed in periodontal health of patients using the different anti-epilepsy drugs. Patients using sodium valproate monotherapy had the highest gingival index scores that correspond to poorer periodontal health and gingival condition. The duration of therapy was directly proportional to the higher gingival index score. Conclusion: Anti-Epilepsy drugs namely, carbamazepine, sodium valproate and phenytoin have marked ill-effects on periodontal health, as is revealed by the gingival index score. The magnitude damage that each drug causes differs and is higher than the reported literature norms of healthy individuals. Patients on sodium valproate monotherapy had the highest gingival index score followed closely by patients using phenytoin monotherpay. Carbamazepine was by far the safest of the three, with lowest gingival index score. Key Words: Epilepsy, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Sodium Valproate, Anti-Epilepsy Drugs, Anti-Convulsion Drugs, Periodontal Health and Gingival Index.