To assess the height growth of children with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the related factors.

The subjects were 148 children diagnosed with epilepsy at Pusan National University Hospital between January 1996 and December 2003, who received AEDs for more than 3 y. We measured height at the initiation of AED medication and at the last visit during AED medication. We analyzed the mean height standard deviation score (SDS) according to several factors, including sex, age at initial medication, seizure type, underlying causes of epilepsy, seizure frequency before AED medication, seizure control, number of AEDs, height SDS before medication, and duration of medication.

In the total population, height SDS at initial therapy and last follow-up were -0.06±1.39 versus 0.10±1.12 ( P =0.09). Children with controlled seizures showed a significant increase in height SDS, from -0.12±1.39 to 0.10±1.09 ( P =0.04), and children on medication for less than 6 y showed a significant increase in height SDS, from -0.09±1.54 to 0.21±1.07 ( P =0.03). Also, children with negative initial height SDS showed a significant increase in height SDS ( P <0.05). No height SDS changes were observed in any of the other groups, regardless of sex, seizure type, underlying causes of epilepsy, or age at initial medication.

Neither epilepsy nor AED medication affects long-term height growth. Controlled seizure and short duration of AED medication are positive factors for height growth in children with epilepsy.