Clinical Trial: Valproic Acid-associated Hypoalbuminemia in Medically Fragile Patients

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Valproic Acid-associated Hypoalbuminemia in Medically Fragile Pediatric and Young Adult Patients in a Long Term Care Facility Part 1: Potential Mechanism for Decreased Albumin Synthesis

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate potential mechanisms of valproic acid-associated low serum albumin in medically fragile pediatric and young adult epileptic patients of a long-term care facility.

Detailed Summary: Valproic acid (VPA) is a long-chain fatty acid frequently used as an antiepileptic agent in pediatric and adult seizure patients. Other adverse effects that have been associated with VPA use include hepatic steatosis, altered mitochondrial function and decreased concentrations of serum proteins. The exact mechanism or mechanisms by which VPA induces these associated adverse drug effects are not fully understood though multiple theories have been postulated including impaired vesicle transport within the hepatocyte, inhibition of hepatic synthetic metabolic pathways and renal protein loss. Decreased serum albumin concentrations with concomitant VPA use have been identified in multiple studies. Albumin synthesis is sensitive to tryptophan concentrations (other amino acids are also able to stimulate albumin synthesis), oncotic pressure near the synthetic site, and energy supply while albumin release from the hepatocyte is sensitive to intrahepatocellular potassium concentrations. Based on available literature, VPA appears to inhibit an enzyme(s) either directly or indirectly involved with albumin synthesis or albumin gene expression. VPA is known to inhibit the urea cycle, including patients with ornithine-transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, possibly by inhibiting mitochondrial carbamoyl-phosphate synthase. Oratz et al discussed the potential correlation between the urea cycle and albumin synthesis identified after the administration of various amino acids increased both albumin and urea synthesis. Ornithine is an intermediate amino acid within the urea cycle and it is also a precursor to polyamines which have been shown to increase the degree of aggregation of polysomes, responsible for protein synthesis, bound to the endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, VPA may indirectly inhibit protein synthesis by interfering with the urea cycle leading to decreased ornithine concentrations and subsequently a decrease in polyamine concentrations and a decrease in the number of bound polyso
Sponsor: Akron Children's Hospital

Current Primary Outcome: The primary outcome will be serum albumin concentrations at baseline in the patients receiving VPA. [ Time Frame: Baseline ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Secondary outcome variables will include serum amino acid concentrations, total protein, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, ammonia, BUN, and sCr and urine albumin, protein, and urea. [ Time Frame: Baseline ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Akron Children's Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: July 25, 2008
Date Started: February 2009
Date Completion:
Last Updated: March 8, 2011
Last Verified: March 2011