Zeitschrift für klinische Fallberichte

Combining Extracorporeal Elimination with Carbapenems in a Patient with Severe Valproic Acid Toxicity: A Case Report

Abstract

Gazwi K, Mitwally H and Abdu A

Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) toxicity causes a wide range of neurological manifestations, spanning from mild lethargy to life-threatening cerebral edema. Extracorporeal elimination, mainly hemodialysis enhances plasma clearance of VPA. Meanwhile, Carbapenems interact with VPA leading to reduction in its plasma concentration. Previous cases reported utilizing either one of these two modalities in VPA toxicity. In this case, we combined the use of both hemodialysis and carbapenem antibiotic in treating a patient with severe VPA poisoning.

Case Report: A 41-year-old male brought to the emergency department after being found unresponsive in his room. He was in deep coma with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3/15. He was intubated and placed on mechanical ventilator. Physical examination revealed loss of all brainstem reflexes. He was shifted to the medical intensive care unit. Blood test showed unquantifiable high serum VPA concentration >4000 umol/L (Therapeutic Range: 350 - 690 umol/L). Hemodialysis was done and 1-gram ertapenem was administered. Later on, day 1, patient started to breathe over the ventilator. On day 2, patient underwent another session of hemodialysis and another dose of ertapenem was given. He became fully awake, with GCS 15/15 and valproate level came down to 1760 umol/L then later day 2 to 800 umol/L. The patient was successfully extubated, and history was taken which revealed that he took 300 tablets of 500 mg valproic acid (total 150 g) for suicidal attempt.

Conclusion: Carbapenems may add additional benefit to extracorporeal elimination in patients with life threatening valproic acid toxicity. Further studies are needed to establish the role of carbapenem in VPA poisoning.