Hair analysis differentiates chronic from acute carbamazepine intoxication

Mantzouranis, Evangelia C.; Bertsias, George K.; Pallis, Eleftherios G.; Tsatsakis, Aristidis M.

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2003.12.017

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 31, Issue 1 , Pages 73-75, July 2004

Hair analysis differentiates chronic from acute carbamazepine intoxication

Evangelia C. Mantzouranis, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Communications should be addressed to:Dr. Mantzouranis; Department of Pediatrics; University Hospital of Heraklion; PO Box 1352; Heraklion 71110, Crete; Greece
George K. Bertsias, MD
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Eleftherios G. Pallis, MD
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Aristidis M. Tsatsakis, PhD
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

Received 20 August 2003; accepted 29 December 2003.

Abstract

This is a report of a 12-year-old epileptic child undergoing chronic treatment with carbamazepine who was found comatose. He was considered to have acute severe drug toxicity. Measurement of carbamazepine concentration in the patient's hair segments together with the carbamazepine blood levels were both important in determining the chronic nature of the patient's intoxication. Mantzouranis EC, Bertsias GK, Pallis EG, Tsatsakis AM. Hair analysis differentiates chronic from acute carbamazepine intoxication.