Constipation, antiepileptic drugs, and gingivitis in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) individuals present with epilepsy, which requires the use of antiepileptic drug (AED). HYPOTHESIS: Since an inflammatory response may contribute to epileptogenesis, the hypothesis tested was that constipation would be associated with gingivitis and the use of AED in children and adolescents (CA) with CP. DESIGN: A comparative study was conducted with 101 CA aged 5-17 years (10.8 ± 4.9), classified as constipated (G1; n = 57) or not constipated (G2; n = 44). Clinical patterns, AED used, body mass index (BMI), fluid intake, toilet transfer, and gingival condition were evaluated. Student's t test, chi-squared test, and logistic regression analysis were performed (α = 0.05). RESULTS: There were no differences between groups regarding gender (P = 0.531), age (P = 0.227), BMI (P = 0.437), and fluid intake (P = 0.346). G1, however, presented a higher percentage of quadriplegic individuals (P < 0.001), dependency for toilet transfer (P < 0.001), the presence of gingivitis (P = 0.020), and the use of AED polytherapy (P < 0.001) compared to G2. Constipation was associated with quadriplegic CA, using GABA as AED (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Mucosal inflammation evidenced by constipation and gingivitis is associated with the most neurologically compromised CAs under the use of GABA AED.