Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1984-7-10
pubmed:abstractText
Sodium valproate was administered to 38 patients, admitted to our unit in the last 18 months, and chosen because they had: (1) poor control of their seizures; (2) therapeutic concentrations in their plasma of at least two major antiepileptic drugs. In 8 of them, a therapeutic dosage of VPA caused modifications of the state of consciousness ranging from coma to drowsiness and stupor. These patients also showed gastrointestinal disturbances, asterixis, ataxia, tremor and a worsening of EEG abnormalities. The side effects of the drug were constantly associated with increased concentration of blood ammonia. Better penetration of ammonia into the CNS of patients undergoing frequent seizures and possibly having imperfectly functioning biological barriers, could explain our observations. In view of the unusually high percentage of patients suffering from serious VPA side effects, it is probably advisable to carefully monitor ammonemia in the first few days of VPA therapy in every patient treated with multiple anticonvulsants.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0014-3022
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
23
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
104-12
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1984
pubmed:articleTitle
Hyperammonemia and valproate-induced alterations of the state of consciousness. A report of 8 cases.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports