Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient
Literature on antiepileptic induced iatrogenic hypoglycemia is scanty. Due to its broad spectrum of activity and mechanisms of action, valproic acid (VPA), a fatty acid, is the most widely prescribed epilepsy treatment worldwide. Herein, we describe an adult epileptic patient, where persistent, oth...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SEEd
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Clinical Management Issues |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.seedmedicalpublishers.com/index.php/cmi/article/view/1487 |
| _version_ | 1818330090031808512 |
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| author | Eugenia Rota Paola Varese Luciano Arena Lorenzo Celli Irene Pappalardo Nicola Morelli |
| author_facet | Eugenia Rota Paola Varese Luciano Arena Lorenzo Celli Irene Pappalardo Nicola Morelli |
| author_sort | Eugenia Rota |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Literature on antiepileptic induced iatrogenic hypoglycemia is scanty. Due to its broad spectrum of activity and mechanisms of action, valproic acid (VPA), a fatty acid, is the most widely prescribed epilepsy treatment worldwide.
Herein, we describe an adult epileptic patient, where persistent, otherwise unexplained hypoglycemia, was most likely induced by VPA, as suggested by the VPA time course and glucose blood levels. Indeed, no further hypoglycemic episodes occurred after VPA discontinuation and the diagnostic work-up ruled out other possible causes of hypoglycemia.
This case supports the hypothesis that VPA may induce hypoglycemia, due to still not well-defined metabolic mechanisms of action. Moreover, it emphasizes the fact that an iatrogenic pathogenesis should be considered if an apparently unexplained hypoglycemia occurs in a patient on chronic therapy with antiepileptics, even at a therapeutical dosage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:58:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a78f2d70689448a4bced54b7575cf98f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2283-3137 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:58:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | SEEd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Management Issues |
| spelling | doaj.art-a78f2d70689448a4bced54b7575cf98f2022-12-21T23:45:06ZengSEEdClinical Management Issues2283-31372021-04-0115110.7175/cmi.v15i1.14871334Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult PatientEugenia Rota0Paola Varese1Luciano Arena2Lorenzo Celli3Irene Pappalardo4Nicola Morelli5Neurology Unit, San Giacomo Hospital, Novi Ligure, AL, ItalyInternal Medicine Unit, Ovada Hospital, AL, ItalyNeurology Unit, San Giacomo Hospital, Novi Ligure, AL, ItalyNeurology Unit, San Giacomo Hospital, Novi Ligure, AL, ItalyNeurology Unit, San Giacomo Hospital, Novi Ligure, AL, ItalyNeurology and Radiology Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, ItalyLiterature on antiepileptic induced iatrogenic hypoglycemia is scanty. Due to its broad spectrum of activity and mechanisms of action, valproic acid (VPA), a fatty acid, is the most widely prescribed epilepsy treatment worldwide. Herein, we describe an adult epileptic patient, where persistent, otherwise unexplained hypoglycemia, was most likely induced by VPA, as suggested by the VPA time course and glucose blood levels. Indeed, no further hypoglycemic episodes occurred after VPA discontinuation and the diagnostic work-up ruled out other possible causes of hypoglycemia. This case supports the hypothesis that VPA may induce hypoglycemia, due to still not well-defined metabolic mechanisms of action. Moreover, it emphasizes the fact that an iatrogenic pathogenesis should be considered if an apparently unexplained hypoglycemia occurs in a patient on chronic therapy with antiepileptics, even at a therapeutical dosage.https://journals.seedmedicalpublishers.com/index.php/cmi/article/view/1487hypoglycemia, valproic acid (vpa), epilepsy, side effects, diabetes mellitus, jatrogenic effects, seizure |
| spellingShingle | Eugenia Rota Paola Varese Luciano Arena Lorenzo Celli Irene Pappalardo Nicola Morelli Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient Clinical Management Issues hypoglycemia, valproic acid (vpa), epilepsy, side effects, diabetes mellitus, jatrogenic effects, seizure |
| title | Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient |
| title_full | Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient |
| title_fullStr | Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient |
| title_short | Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia Induced by Valproic Acid in an Adult Patient |
| title_sort | iatrogenic hypoglycemia induced by valproic acid in an adult patient |
| topic | hypoglycemia, valproic acid (vpa), epilepsy, side effects, diabetes mellitus, jatrogenic effects, seizure |
| url | https://journals.seedmedicalpublishers.com/index.php/cmi/article/view/1487 |
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