Effect of L-carnitine treatment for valproate-induced hepatotoxicity.
The authors analyzed the association of L-carnitine treatment with hepatic survival in 92 patients with severe, symptomatic, valproate-induced hepatotoxicity. Forty-eight percent of the 42 patients treated with L-carnitine survived, but only 10% of the 50 patients treated solely with aggressive supportive care survived (p < 0.001). Early intervention with IV rather than enteral L-carnitine was associated with the greatest hepatic survival. Specifically, all 10 patients who were diagnosed in <5 days and treated with IV L-carnitine survived. Most patients had features of chronic illness and most children appeared to be malnourished.
Bohan
T P
TP
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, USA. tpbohan@aol.com
Helton
E
E
McDonald
I
I
König
S
S
Gazitt
S
S
Sugimoto
T
T
Scheffner
D
D
Cusmano
L
L
Li
S
S
Koch
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D002331:Carnitine