Do patients presenting to accident and emergency departments have low serum anticonvulsant concentrations?
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.
Snow
D G
DG
Accident and Emergency Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K.
Jackson
S H
SH
Skinner
D
D
Burton
R M
RM
Williams
A H
AH
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
D000927:Anticonvulsants