title: Protein binding of valproic acid in maternal and umbilical cord serum.
abstract: The serum valproic acid levels of 18 maternity patients at the time of delivery were compared with the valproic acid levels in the umbilical cord serum. The levels in the umbilical cord serum were 1.1-4.6 times higher than those in the maternal serum, with a mean value of 1.38. One explanation for this difference apparently is an increased protein binding of valproic acid in the infant's serum. Protein binding was determined in nine patients, in six by equilibrium dialysis and in three by ultrafiltration. The median value of the free fraction of valproic acid was 9.1% (range, 5.8-16.4%) in the umbilical cord serum (equilibrium dialysis) and 15% (range, 12.7-35.3%) in the maternal serum. The difference between the infant and the maternal serum is significant.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011485:Protein Binding; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D014635:Valproic Acid