Intermittent blood testing for monitoring of liver function tests and hematologic functions is reasonable, although not of proven value; consider obtaining baseline AST/SGOT and complete blood count (CBC) with repeated measures at 1, 3, and 6 months following initiation of therapy with older AEDs, and measure baseline serum sodium before initiation of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine (which may result in hyponatremia) with repeat testing after two months, perhaps with earlier or more frequent testing in elderly patients or those receiving sodium-wasting diurectics. The gene discussed is GOT1; the disease is Hyponatremia.