OBJECTIVE:

A case is reported of a carbamazepine (CBZ)-treated epileptic mother whose newborn presented with transient hepatic dysfunction characterized by direct hyperbilirubinemia and high concentrations of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT).

DATA SOURCES:

Information was obtained from case reports, clinical trials, and relevant bibliographic laboratory studies.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Data from case reports were evaluated and compared with those from our patient. The hepatotoxic reactions together with the microsomal enzymatic induction of CBZ were reviewed.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

A female infant born to an epileptic mother treated with CBZ throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding presented with transient direct hyperbilirubinemia and high concentrations of GGT. The characteristics of her transient hepatic dysfunction were: early appearance (during the first day of life); discrepancy between the normal liver enzymes and high GGT concentrations; slow decrease of GGT, which nevertheless remained at above-normal concentrations even after the complete disappearance of direct hyperbilirubinemia; and spontaneous resolution in spite of only occasional breastfeeding. The possible explanations of this transient hepatic dysfunction (like enzymatic induction) are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS:

CBZ-induced hepatic dysfunction in neonates appears to have different clinical expressions. Infants of epileptic mothers treated with CBZ throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding should be carefully monitored for possible adverse effects.