Determination of Serum Concentration of Valproic Acid in Epileptic Children and Correlation Between Serum Drug Concentration and Clinical Efficacy

OBJECTIVE:To establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of serum concentration of valproic acid in epileptic children and to study the correlation between serum drug concentration with dosage,patients' sex,age and clinical efficacy.METHODS:The serum concentration of valproic acid in 122 epileptic children after oral administration of single valproic acid(10～ 14d) was determined by HPLC and the determination results were subjected to analysis.RESULTS:The linear range for valproic acid was 10～ 180μg· mL-1(r=0.998 9).There were a little difference between serum concentration and the dosage of valproic acid in epileptic children with different age,but serum drug concentration showed no significant correlation with patients' age and sex difference.The optimal therapeutic concentration window of valproic acid was 40～ 100μg· mL-1.CONCLUSION:The established method is simple,accurate and specific.It is applicable for the monitoring of serum concentration of valproic acid and it can provide reference for rational use of drugs in the clinic.