Monitoring the concentration of Valproic acid and its clinical sense

Objective:To give some informations for rationally administrating oral valproic acid to epileptic patients in clinic.Methods:The serum concentrations of valproic acid of 143 epileptic patients were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay.The results and the therapeutic effect were studied.Results:222 of the patients were within the normal concentration range,accounting for 68.5% of total patients observed,while 6 of patients whose serum drug concentration had normal range of concentration did not have their epilepsy controlled,13 of patients had appeared toxic reaction.102 of patients had higher or lower concentration than normal,accounting for 31.5%.Conclusion:The serum concentration monitoring for valproic acid might play a key role in guiding rational use of antiepileptic drugs,there exists big individual among the drug serum concentration.It is suggested that an individual administrated scheme should be applied in clinical practice.