Pediatric Neurology
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 24-27 , January 2003

Carnitine level in Chinese epileptic patients taking sodium valproate

  • Eva L.W Fung, MBChB

      Affiliations

    • Department of Paediatrics; Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong
    • Corresponding Author InformationCommunications should be addressed to: Dr. Fung; 6/F, Department of Paediatrics; Clinical Sciences Building; Prince of Wales Hospital; Shatin, Hong Kong.
    • ,
  • Nelson L.S Tang, MBChB

      Affiliations

    • Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
    • ,
  • Chung Shun Ho, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
    • ,
  • Christopher W.K Lam, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
    • ,
  • Tai Fai Fok, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Paediatrics; Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

Received 5 March 2002 ,Accepted 4 June 2002.

References 

  1. Van Wouwe JP. Carnitine deficiency during valproic acid treatment. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1995;65:211–214
  2. Opala G, Winter S, Vance C, et al.  The effect of valproic acid on plasma carnitine levels. Am J Dis Child. 1991;145:999–1001
  3. Verrotti A, Greco R, Morgese G, Chiarelli F. Carnitine deficiency and hyperammonemia in children receiving valproic acid with and without other anticonvulsant drugs. Int J Clin Lab Res. 1999;29:36–40
  4. Hiraoka A, Arato T, Tominaga I. Reduction in blood free carnitine levels in association with changes in sodium valproate (VPA) disposition in epileptic patients treated with VPA and other anti-epileptic drugs. Biol Pharm Bull. 1997;20:91–93
  5. Castro-Gago M, Eiris-Punal J, Novo-Rodriguez MI, Couceiro J, Camina F, Rodriguez-Segade S. Serum carnitine levels in epileptic children before and during treatment with valproic acid, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital. J Child Neurol. 1998;13:546–549
  6. Igarashi N, Sato T, Kyouya S. Secondary carnitine deficiency in handicapped patients receiving valproic acid and/or elemental diet. Acta Paediatr Jpn. 1990;32:139–145
  7. Hirose S, Mitsudome A, Yasumoto S, Ogawa A, Muta Y, Tomoda Y. Valproate therapy does not deplete carnitine levels in otherwise healthy children. Pediatrics. 1998;101:E9
  8. Li J, Norwood DL, Mao LF, Schulz H. Mitochondrial metabolism of valproic acid. Biochemistry. 1991;30:388–394
  9. Becker CM, Harris RA. Influence of valproic acid on hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1983;223:381–392
  10. Matsuda I, Ohtani Y. Carnitine status in Reye and Reye-like syndromes. Pediatr Neurol. 1986;2:90–94
  11. Coulter DL. Carnitine deficiency (A possible mechanism for valproate hepatotoxicity). Lancet. 1984;1:689
  12. Bohan TP, Helton E, McDonald I, et al.  Effect of L-carnitine treatment for valproate-induced hepatotoxicity. Neurology. 2001;56(10):1405–1409
  13. Coulter DL. Carnitine deficiency in epilepsy (Risk factors and treatment). J Child Neurol. 1995;10(Suppl 2):S32–39
  14. De Vivo DC, Bohan TP, Coulter DL, et al.  L-carnitine supplementation in childhood epilepsy (Current perspectives). Epilepsia. 1998;39:1216–1225
  15. Shapira Y, Gutman A. Muscle carnitine deficiency in patients using valproic acid. J Pediatr. 1991;118:646–649
  16. Freeman JM, Vining EP, Cost S, Singhi P. Does carnitine administration improve the symptoms attributed to anticonvulsant medications? (A double-blinded, crossover study). Pediatrics. 1994;93:893–895
  17. Kelly RI. The role of carnitine supplementation in valproic acid therapy. Pediatrics. 1994;93:891–892

PII: S0887-8994(02)00460-5

doi: 10.1016/S0887-8994(02)00460-5

Pediatric Neurology
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 24-27 , January 2003

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