title: Reversible altered consciousness with brain atrophy caused by valproic acid.
abstract: A 5-year-old female developed alteration of consciousness during 3 days of long-term treatment with valproic acid for localization-related epilepsy. Computed tomography revealed cerebral atrophy, and electroencephalography presented slow background activity. Consciousness cleared only 12 hours after valproic acid was discontinued, and normal electroencephalography results were evident 1 week later. Cerebral atrophy was nonexistent 2 months later. This rapidly developing but reversible alteration of consciousness in parallel with brain atrophy is recognized as a rare idiosyncratic adverse effect of valproic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamanouchi
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Imataka
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Mitsuoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid