Carnitine deficiency associated with anticonvulsant therapy.
Valproic acid therapy is known to be associated with carnitine deficiency in adult as well as young epileptic patients. In a study of the possible existence of such side-effects with other anticonvulsants, 76.5% of adult patients treated with valproate were deficient in serum free carnitine, with acylcarnitine levels significantly higher than in controls (p less than 0.01), while the carnitine deficiency rate in a group of patients treated with anticonvulsants other than valproate was 21.5%. Since in clinical practice only about one fifth of patients are treated with valproate, this means that about 15% of epileptics are carnitine deficient because of valproate treatment and 17% because of other anticonvulsants. The mechanisms and clinical and biological consequences of the carnitine deficiency associated with antiepileptic drugs other than valproate are not known.
Rodriguez-Segade
S
S
Department of Biochemistry (Faculty of Pharmacy), University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
de la Peña
C A
CA
Tutor
J C
JC
Paz
J M
JM
Fernandez
M P
MP
Rozas
I
I
Del Río
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D002331:Carnitine; D010634:Phenobarbital