Structure-activity relationship studies of valproic acid (VPA) derivatives have revealed a quantitative correlation between histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition and induction of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the NMRI-exencephaly-mouse model, but this correlation has been, so far, limited to congeners with a carboxylic acid function. Whereas the classical HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A is active...

Exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during embryogenesis can cause several teratogenic effects, including developmental delays and in particular autism in humans if exposure occurs during the third week of gestation. We examined the postnatal effects of embryonic exposure to VPA on microcircuit properties of juvenile rat neocortex using in vitro electrophysiology. We found that a single prenatal in...

BACKGROUND Valproic acid (VPA) is used as a first-line antiepileptic agent and is undergoing clinical trials for use as a treatment for many disorders. Mothers undergoing VPA treatment during early pregnancy reportedly show increased rates of autism among their offspring. The benefits of curcumin supplementation were investigated using an animal model of VPA-induced autism. METHODS The study ...

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze retrospectively carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproic acid (VPA) salivary data collected from epileptic children during a 3-year period. Methods: Saliva samples stimulated by citric acid were assayed by FPIA method. One hundred and three patients (aged 1-14 years) were in CBZ or VPA monotherapy or in CBZ-VPA combined therapy. Results: VPA salivary level...

Valproic acid (VPA) is considered to be a drug of first choice for the therapy of generalized and focal epilepsies, including special epileptic syndromes like the WEST-syndrome. The drug is usually well tolerated; rare serious complications may occur in some patients, including haemorrhagic pancreatitis, coagulapathies, bone marrow suppression, VPA-induced hepatotoxicity and encephalopathy. We ...

Encephalopathy resulting from the administration of levetiracetam (LEV) is a rare occurrence. We experienced a patient receiving LEV treated with valproic acid (VPA) for partial seizures with secondary generalization, following which she developed hyperammonemic encephalopathy and showed complete recovery after the drug was withdrawan. LEV is able to promote hyperammonemic encephalopathy when a...

The incidence of fatal hepatic failure associated with valproic acid (VPA) therapy is highest in children under the age of three years, particularly in those with developmental delay. The pathogenesis of VPA hepatotoxicity is unclear but may relate to the accumulation of a toxic metabolite of VPA which impairs fatty-acid oxidation. We describe two unrelated infants with developmental delay who ...

Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug and is usually well-tolerated. Rare serious complications may occur in some patients, including haemorrhagic pancreatitis, bone marrow suppression, VPA-induced hepatotoxicity and VPA-induced encephalopathy. The typical signs of VPA-induced encephalopathy are impaired consciousness, sometimes marked EEG background slowing, increased seiz...

Two recent epidemiological investigations in children exposed to valproic acid (VPA) treatment in utero have reported a significant risk associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in particular. Parallel to this work, there is a growing body of animal research literature using VPA as an animal model of ASD. In this focused review we first summarize the epide...

Valproic acid (VPA; Depakene#{174}; Depakote#{174}) is indicated for use both as the sole and adjunctive therapy in the treatment of simple (petit mal) and complex absence seizures. It may also be used adjunctively in patients with multiple seizure types, which includes absence seizures. Adjustment of VPA dosage in patients with convulsive disorders is routinely guided by measurements of total ...