Paradoxical effect of sodium valproate that aggravates epilepsy of MELAS in a patient with A3243G mutation of the mitochondrial DNA

• Authors: Yi-Min Chen , Chih-Ming Lin , Peterus Thajeb
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Epilepsy is an associated feature of patients with the syndrome of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). A substitution at nucleotide position 3243 A>G of the mitochondrial DNA is the most common mutation encountered both in Caucasians and in Chinese/Taiwanese. We herein report a 38-year-old man with A3243G mutation of the mitochondrial DNA whom developed MELAS. The manifestation of his focal motor epilepsy was aggravated by use of sodium valproate (VPA). The mechanism of this paradoxical effect is proposed.

Keywords

EN

Acidosis; epilepsy; MELAS; mitochondrial disease; paradoxical effect; sodium valproate

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Open Medicine
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 103-107

Dates

published

1 - 3 - 2007

online

1 - 3 - 2007

Contributors

author

Yi-Min Chen

• Departments of Neurology and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC

author

Chih-Ming Lin

• Departments of Neurology and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC

author

Peterus Thajeb

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s11536-007-0007-5