Evidence Hub

Rescue strategies for valproic acid overdose poisoning: Case series and literature review

Liu R, Xiao L, Hu Y, Yan Q, Liu X

Clinical case reports, 2024

Abstract

Valproic acid (VPA) is a wide-ranging anti-epileptic medication that primarily affects bipolar disorder, mania, and migraine. The leading causes of mortality associated with acute poisoning from VPA are nervous system toxicity, drug-induced shock due to encephalopathy from hyperammonemia, as well as acute liver and kidney failure, and respiratory depression that contribute to hemodynamic instability. Treatment of acute VPA poisoning primarily involves in vitro elimination methods, including hemoperfusion (HP), hemodialysis, and hemofiltration, as well as drug remedies such as L-carnitine and meropenem. Nonetheless, there are conflicting opinions regarding drug usage. This article details the three cases of acute poisoning from VPA. The fundamental approach to treatment employs HP assisted by blood concentration monitoring to alleviate shock and stabilize hemodynamics. This investigation presents guidance for the treatment and management of acute poisoning with VPA in clinical settings.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free