title: A case of drug-induced interstitial pneumonitis caused by valproic Acid for the treatment of seizure disorders.
abstract: Valproic acid is one of the most common antiepileptic drugs used for the treatment of several seizure disorders. A 20-year-old man presented with a sudden decline of consciousness. He had a neurosurgery operation for intracranial and intraventricular hemorrhage. Following surgery, antiepileptic medication was administered to the patient in order to control his seizure events. On valproic acid treatment, he began to complain of fever and dyspnea. His symptoms persisted despite receiving empirical antibiotic treatment. All diagnostic tests for infectious causes were negative. A high-resolution computed tomography scan of the chest revealed predominantly dependent consolidation and ground-glass opacities in both lower lobes. The primary differential was drug associated with interstitial lung disease. Therefore, we discontinued valproic acid treatment and began methylprednisolone treatment. His symptoms and radiologic findings had significantly improved after receiving steroid therapy. We propose that clinicians should be made aware of the potential for valproic acid to induce lung injury.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Jhun
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeun Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Drug Hypersensitivity; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Valproic Acid