title: Do patients presenting to accident and emergency departments have low serum anticonvulsant concentrations?
abstract: It is often felt that poorly controlled epileptic patients, who are taking anticonvulsant medication, are over represented in A&E departments compared to the general population. This A&E based study set out to determine whether such patients do have inadequate serum anticonvulsant levels, when they present following a seizure, to A&E departments. All epileptic patients, taking medication, who presented to the A&E departments of St. Bartholomew's and Hackney Hospitals, London, over a 4-month period were studied. Serum anticonvulsant concentrations were measured on their arrival in the departments. Forty-six patients were studied. Only 21% of anticonvulsant drug concentrations were within 'therapeutic' ranges. A total of 66% were below 'therapeutic' ranges and 13% were potentially toxic. The implication of these findings is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants