Effect of UGT2B7 Gene Polymorphism with Clinical Pediatric Epileptic patients on Sodium Valproate Monotherapy

Background: Pediatric epilepsy comprises of a chronic neurological disorders characterized by recurrent seizure attack. Sodium valproate is one of the common anti-epileptic drugs used in the treatment. Glucuronide conjugation is the major metabolic pathway of sodium valproate, carried out by the enzyme Uridine 5’-diphospho (UDP) glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) whose genetic polymorphisms may alter clinical outcome. Aim: To find the association between UGT2B7 genetic polymorphism and clinical outcome in terms of efficacy and tolerability in pediatric epileptic patients on sodium valproate monotherapy. Methods and Materials: In this cohort study, 75 pediatric epileptic patients aged 2-18 years receiving sodium valproate monotherapy for past one month were included from Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital, Mangalore, India after obtaining informed consent. Genetic polymorphism patterns of UGT2B7 (C161T, A268G, G211T) was evaluated by PCR-RFLP. Clinical outcome was measured in terms of responders and non-responders based on seizure control during the 6 month observation period. Tolerability was measured by estimating the hepatic, renal and other lab parameters. Clinical outcome in different UGT genotypes was compared by Chi square test. P value <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Out of 75 patients, CC (41.3%), CT (38.7%), TT (20%) pattern was observed in UGT2B7 (C161T) gene, AA(14.7%), AG(42.7%), GG(42.7%) in (A268G) gene and GG(80%), GT(18.7%), TT(1.3%) in (G211T) gene. It was found that there was no statistical difference in clinical outcome with different UGT2B7 genetic polymorphism patterns. Conclusion: We conclude from our study that genetic polymorphism of UGT2B7 doesn’t have any role on the clinical outcome of epilepsy.