Valproic acid and phenytoin effects on serum proteins and immunoglobulins of epileptic patients.

ABSTRACT

An evaluation of serum protein and immunoglobulins with regard to valproic acid (VPA) and phenytoin (phen) serum levels was performed in 28 epileptic patients. Serum antiepileptic levels were measured in fasting conditions. All patients were classified into the following groups A (VPA below 50 micrograms/ml), B (VPA 50-89 micrograms/ml), C (VPA above 89 micrograms/ml), D (VPA 50-89 micrograms/ml and phen below 10 micrograms/ml). Patients of group C showed higher serum protein values than groups A (P less than 0.02), B and D (P less than 0.001). The alpha 2 and beta-globulin fractions were higher in group C than the remaining groups (P less than 0.05). Immunoglobulin A, G and M remained unaltered in all patients.