[Antiepileptic drugs and carnitine].
BACKGROUND
Carnitine is an nonproteic nitrogenated compound acid present in all mammalian tissue and its principal activity is the long-chain fatty acid transport across the mitochondrial membrane for beta-oxidation.


METHODS
Carnitine levels are maintained by absorption from dietary, endogenous synthesis in the liver and renal reabsorption. An alteration in concentration could be due to an abnormality in some of mentioned mechanism or to inherited errors in metabolism. A reduction in serum carnitine levels have been reported in patients with antiepileptic drugs (AED) use. While valproic acid as monotheraphy or in combination with other AED have been associated principally, some contradictory studies demonstrated that other AED specifically carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital, also cause carnitine deficiency in about 21% of the patients whom they are administered.


CONCLUSIONS
This study was designed to investigated the relationship between the carnitine levels and the presence of symptoms in patients with seizures whom are treated with a AED alone or in combination.
Campistol
J
J
Servicio Neurología, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, España. campistol@hsjdbcn.org
Chávez
B
B
Vilaseca
M A
MA
Artuch
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D002331:Carnitine; D010634:Phenobarbital