title: Dose-dependent valproate-induced alopecia in patients with mental disorders.
abstract: Drug-induced hair loss may occur as a side effect in patients treated with valproate. However, few studies have reported a relationship between the blood levels of valproate and the occurrence of hair loss. We report three cases of alopecia that occurred in patients who received sodium valproate for mental disorders. In all three cases, alopecia appeared after long-term valproate exposure with a plasma concentration of 100 µg/ml approximately. However, the alopecia resolved in all cases after dose reduction or treatment discontinuation. Therefore, alopecia may develop in patients with chronic exposure to high plasma concentrations of valproate. Based on these findings, we believe that patients with high plasma concentrations of valproate should be closely monitored for the occurrence of side effects, particularly alopecia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Bando, Bando, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Bando, Bando, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Bando, Bando, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Bando, Bando, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Iwaki Meisei University, Iwaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Bando, Bando, Ibaraki, Japan; Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba International University, Tsuchiura, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukinao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kohda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014635:Valproic Acid
keywords: Alopecia; chronic exposure; high plasma concentration; valproate