This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Grzegorz Opala, MD, PhD; Susan Winter, MD; Carol Vance, MD; Hugh Vance, PhD; H. Terry Hutchison, MD, PhD; Lawrence S. Linn

Am J Dis Child. 1991;145(9):999-1001.

Abstract
• Plasma total, free, and acyl carnitine levels were determined in four groups of children: (1) those treated with valproic acid as monotherapy (n = 43), (2) those treated with valproic acid plus other antiepileptics as polytherapy (n = 91), (3) those treated with other antiepileptic drugs alone (n = 43), and (4) normal patients (n = 89). The mean free carnitine level was significantly lower in both the valproic acid monotherapy (29.9 µmol/L) and polytherapy (21.4 µmol/L) groups compared with normal subjects (36.8 µmol/L); it was also significantly lower than that in patients treated with other antiepileptic drugs (36.7 µmol/L). Comparison of valproic acid polytherapy and monotherapy yielded significantly lower free carnitine levels in the polytherapy group. The ratios of acyl to free carnitine for monotherapy (0.41) and polytherapy (0.45) were significantly higher than that in the normal group (0.25). This study indicates that a general decrease in the carnitine pool should be anticipated in patients taking valproic acid polytherapy and, to a lesser degree, monotherapy. Carnitine levels in the group taking other drugs did not differ from normal.

(AJDC. 1991;145:999-1001)

Author Affiliations
From Metabolic Research and Analysis Inc, Fresno, Calif (Drs Opala and H. Vance and Mr Linn), and Valley Children's Hospital and University of California, San Francisco, Fresno (Drs Winter, C. Vance, and Hutchison).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 22, 1991.

Reprint requests to Metabolic Research and Analysis Inc, 3150 E Shields Ave 104, Fresno, CA 93726 (Dr Opala).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Serum and Muscle Carnitine Levels in Epileptic Children Receiving Sodium Valproate
Anil et al.
J Child Neurol 2009;24:80-86.
ABSTRACT  

Serum Carnitine Levels During Oxcarbazepine and Carbamazepine Monotherapies in Children With Epilepsy
Kurul et al.
J Child Neurol 2003;18:552-554.
ABSTRACT  

Serum Carnitine Levels in Epileptic Children Before and During Treatment With Valproic Acid, Carbamazepine, and Phenobarbital
Castro-Gago et al.
J Child Neurol 1998;13:546-549.
ABSTRACT  

Carnitine Deficiency in Epilepsy: Risk Factors and Treatment
Coulter
J Child Neurol 1995;10:2S32-2S39.
ABSTRACT  

A Child With Valproic Acid-Associated Carnitine Deficiency and Carnitine-Responsive Cardiac Dysfunction
Bratton et al.
J Child Neurol 1992;7:413-416.
ABSTRACT