Abstract

In this study, we determined and evaluated the correlation between the dose of Valproate (VPA) and the concentrations of VPA and two important metabolites (2-ene-VPA and 4-ene-VPA) in serum of intoxicated patients referred to Loghman hospital. VPA poisoning is an increasing clinical problem. 2-ene-VPA is neurotoxic and the 4-ene-VPA has a key role in hepatotoxicity of VPA. Following clinical evaluations, two blood samples at referring time (time zero) and 12 h later were collected from 19 intoxicated patients. VPA and its metabolites were extracted from serum samples and measured using Gas chromatography-mass (GC-MS) spectrometry analysis. There was a correlation between VPA dose and concentration of VPA in serum of intoxicated cases at referring time (p<0.01). Significant reduction between mean serum concentration of VPA and metabolites was observed after 12 h (For VPA p<0.05, for 2-ene-VPA and 4-ene-VPA p<0.01). Evaluation of serum levels of VPA metabolites can provide information about potential risk of side effects and better management of patients.