title: Ethosuximide: liver enzyme induction and D-glucaric acid excretion.
abstract: 1 A study has been carried out to determine if ethosuximide induces liver enzymes. 2 Ethosuximide did not affect the urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid by healthy adult subjects nor was the mean daily D-glucaric acid excretion of three epileptic children on long term ethosuximide therapy different from that of three matched controls. 3 Ethosuximide (10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg daily) did not influence D-glucaric acid excretion or liver microsomal protein and cytochrome P450 contents of guinea pigs but at a dose of 100 mg/kg daily in rats it increased liver microsomal protein and cytochrome P450 without altering D-glucaric acid excretion. 4 These results suggest that at anticonvulsant doses ethosuximide is unlikely to induce liver enzymes. The precise relationship between D-glucaric acid excretion and liver enzyme induction remains in doubt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University Medical Buildings, Aberdeen.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Petrie