Hyperaminoacidemia in epileptic children treated with valproic acid.
Serum amino acids were determined in 22 epileptic children treated with valproic acid. This treatment caused hypocarnitinemia in all, and hyperammonemia in 16. Regardless of the blood ammonia levels, values for glutamic acid, arginine, glycine, serine and alanine were higher than those of normal controls, while aspartic acid and ornithine were lower. These findings suggest that valproate causes intramitochondrial dysfunction of the urea cycle.
Castro-Gago
M
M
Departamento de Pediatria, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Rodrigo-Saez
E
E
Novo-Rodriguez
I
I
Camiña
M F
MF
Rodriguez-Segade
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000596:Amino Acids; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000641:Ammonia