/ Neurology
Accuracy of calculated free valproate levels in adult patients with status epilepticus.
Fisch U, Baumann SM, Semmlack S, Marsch S, Rüegg S, Sutter R.
Neurology. 2020 Oct 14
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011000. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33055270.
In a joint collaboration of intensive care unit and neurology at the USB, the DKF Research Group Neurointensive Medicine around the authors Dr. Urs Fisch and PD Dr. Raoul Sutter, with the help of more than 500 measurements in 100 patients, examined a formula commonly used in practice for estimating the antiepileptic drug valproic acid for the dosage in the treatment of epileptic seizures instead of measuring valproic acid in a time-consuming and costly manner. The authors were able to show that in almost 40% of cases the formula significantly over- or underestimates laboratory measurements and is therefore not reliable for therapy monitoring.