title: Valproate-induced encephalopathy.
abstract: A 50-year-old woman taking carbamazepine (CBZ) 1200 mg daily for her partial epilepsy developed acute confusion after valproate (VPA) add-on treatment for 10 days. The administration of VPA started from 1000 mg daily and, 3 days later, increased to 1500 mg daily. Beside a mildly elevated serum ammonia level (81 microg/dL), her electroencephalogram showed diffuse background slowing intermixed with 2-2.5 Hz of high-amplitude slow waves, which indicated a diffuse encephalopathy. The serum levels of VPA and CBZ were 49.1 mg/L and 8.6 mg/L, both being non-toxic. The liver functions appeared normal. She recovered rapidly after discontinuation of VPA. In this patient, a safe previous administration of VPA did not preclude the occurrence of encephalopathy. A relatively large initial VPA dosage could possibly be the culprit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000641:Ammonia