Reduced carnitine and antiepileptic drugs: cause relationship or co-existence?
Serum carnitine was measured longitudinally before and after therapy in 15 patients receiving valproic acid, 14 patients receiving carbamazepine and 8 patients receiving phenobarbital. The patients who received valproic acid showed a significant reduction in free (and total) serum carnitine (mean (SE) 37.6 (6.2) mumol/l without valproic acid, 29.1 (1.6) mumol/l with valproic acid (p < 0.001)). Such an effect was not found in patients receiving carbamazepine or phenobarbital.
Zelnik
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
Fridkis
I
I
Gruener
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D002331:Carnitine; D010634:Phenobarbital