Pediatric Neurology
Volume 28, Issue 5 , Pages 382-384, May 2003

Reversible altered consciousness with brain atrophy caused by valproic acid

  • Hideo Yamanouchi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCommunications should be addressed to: Dr. Yamanouchi; Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine; 880 Kitakobayashi; Mibu, Shimotsuga;Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
    • ,
  • Takako Ota, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Shimotsuga General Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
    • ,
  • George Imataka, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Shimotsuga General Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
    • ,
  • Eiji Nakagawa, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
    • ,
  • Mitsuoki Eguchi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan

Received 25 July 2002; accepted 10 December 2002.

Abstract 

A 5-year-old female developed alteration of consciousness during 3 days of long-term treatment with valproic acid for localization-related epilepsy. Computed tomography revealed cerebral atrophy, and electroencephalography presented slow background activity. Consciousness cleared only 12 hours after valproic acid was discontinued, and normal electroencephalography results were evident 1 week later. Cerebral atrophy was nonexistent 2 months later. This rapidly developing but reversible alteration of consciousness in parallel with brain atrophy is recognized as a rare idiosyncratic adverse effect of valproic acid.

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PII: S0887-8994(03)00005-5

doi:10.1016/S0887-8994(03)00005-5

Pediatric Neurology
Volume 28, Issue 5 , Pages 382-384, May 2003

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