title: The influence of valproic acid and carbamazepine treatment on serum biotin and zinc levels and on biotinidase activity.
abstract: We determined the serum concentration of biotin, zinc, antiepileptic drugs, and biotinidase enzyme activity in 20 children treated with valproic acid, in 10 children treated with carbamazepine, and in 75 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of biotin, and biotinidase enzyme activity between the patients treated with valproic acid, the patients treated with carbamazepine, and the control group. Zinc serum levels were lower in the patients treated with valproic acid and with carbamazepine than in the control group, but within the normal range. Hair loss was observed in 3 patients treated with valproic acid, with normal serum levels of biotin, zinc, and biotinidase activity, 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 levels of biotin, zinc, and biotinidase enzyme activity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Servicio de Neuropediatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario, 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: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez-Gay
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Lado
authors.forename: Daisy E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Castiñeiras-Ramos
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otero-Martínez
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Segade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001710:Biotin / Q000097:blood*; D043523:Biotinidase / Q000097:blood*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D001710:Biotin; D043523:Biotinidase; D015032:Zinc