title: Serum biotinidase activity in children treated with valproic acid and carbamazepine.
abstract: There is evidence that valproic acid causes a reduction of serum biotinidase enzyme activity. We determined the serum concentration of antiepileptic drugs, transaminases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, ammonia, and biotinidase enzyme activity in 57 children treated with valproic acid, in 17 children treated with carbamazepine, and in 75 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. There were no significant differences in the serum biotinidase enzyme activity between the patients treated with valproic acid, the patients treated with carbamazepine, and the control group. Hyperammonemia was detected in 8 patients treated with valproic acid. Hair loss was observed in 3 female patients treated with valproic acid, and the alopecia disappeared with the oral administration of biotin (10 mg/ d) in 3 months. These results suggest that the treatment with valproic acid does not alter the serum biotinidase enzyme activity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Servicio de Neuropediatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. manuel.castro.gago@usc.es
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro-Gago
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Lado
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eirís-Puñal
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Díaz-Mayo
authors.forename: Daisy E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Castiñeiras-Ramos
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D043523:Biotinidase / Q000097:blood*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D043523:Biotinidase