Epilepsy and Blood Testing

There are a number of blood tests that may be recommended as part of your epilepsy diagnosis and treatment.

Epilepsy and the Complete Blood Count

As part of your epilepsy treatment, your doctor may order a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC helps the doctor establish a baseline and can identify infections, allergies, and other abnormalities that may affect the choice of appropriate anticonvulsant medication(s) and help to monitor the possible drug-induced side effects in the future. The CBC measures (among other things):

• The number of red blood cells (which carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body)
• The number of white blood cells (which fight infection)
• Platelets (which help the blood clot in case of a injury or bleeding)
• Hemoglobin (the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen)
• Hematocrit (the percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells)
• Mean corpuscular volume (size of the red blood cells)

Epilepsy and the Chemistry Panel

Another important blood test is known as a chemistry panel. This test includes an evaluation of sodium, potassium, and blood sugar levels. Kidney and liver function tests are also often included, in what is known as a complete metabolic panel. This test will help your doctor identify conditions such as electrolyte (such as sodium) imbalances, kidney or liver damage, and diabetes, which may either be causing your seizures or may affect the choice of the appropriate anticonvulsant (including the doses needed).

Epilepsy and Other Blood Tests

Your doctor may decide to run various other blood tests, including blood levels of medications you may be taking for seizure control. These tests are most often ordered when seizures continue to occur or when drug-induced side effects are suspected.

How Are the Tests Performed?

The blood is drawn by a nurse or technician. He or she places a tourniquet on your arm to restrict the blood flow through the vein (which makes the vein bigger), cleans your arm with an antiseptic, and then inserts a needle into the vein. The blood is collected in one or two vials and the tourniquet is released. After the needle is removed, the nurse or technician will put a bandage on your arm.

Why Are the Tests Performed?

In the case of epilepsy, blood tests such as a CBC and chemistry panel are some of the tests the doctor uses to assess your overall health and to help identify conditions such as infections, anemia, or diabetes that may be triggering the seizures. Blood tests may also help identify conditions such as kidney or liver damage that may affect your treatment and to monitor for the possible occurrence of medication-induced side effects.