We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Effects of chronic administration of valproic acid to epileptic patients on coagulation tests and primary hemostasis.
- Authors
Zighetti, Maddalena L.; Fontana, Gessica; Lussana, Federico; Chiesa, Valentina; Vignoli, Aglaia; Canevini, Maria Paola; Cattaneo, Marco
- Abstract
Valproic acid ( VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that has been associated with impaired hemostasis and increased risk for postsurgical bleeding. However, the published reports provide controversial results. We measured parameters of primary hemostasis in VPA-treated patients with epilepsy, focusing on adenosine nucleotide-dependent platelet responses, which play a central role in primary hemostasis. We enrolled 20 cases (epileptic patients receiving treatment with VPA) and 20 controls (12 epileptic patients receiving treatment with drugs different from VPA and 8 healthy subjects). Measurements included prothrombin time ( PT), activated partial thromboplastin time ( APTT), platelet count, platelet function analyzer ( PFA)-100 closure times, plasma von Willebrand factor levels, platelet content of ADP, ATP, and serotonin (all stored in platelet dense granules), and platelet shape change and aggregation induced by ADP and other platelet agonists, including the ATP analog α,β-methylene- ATP. The plasma concentration of VPA was in the therapeutic range in 17 patients and slightly above the upper limit in 3 patients. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the studied parameters in cases versus controls. Our thorough controlled study failed to show that chronic treatment with VPA induces significant abnormalities of coagulation and primary hemostasis. Therefore, VPA, when present in the circulation in the therapeutic range, does not impair hemostasis.
- Subjects
VALPROIC acid; PEOPLE with epilepsy; BLOOD coagulation tests; HEMOSTASIS; ADENINE nucleotides; PROTHROMBIN time
- Publication
Epilepsia (Series 4), 2015, Vol 56, Issue 5, pe49
- ISSN
0013-9580
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/epi.12952