Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study
Abstract Ketogenic diet (KD) therapy is an effective treatment for children with refractory epilepsy. Concurrent treatment with KD and valproic acid (VPA) has previously been shown to affect VPA blood levels. The aim of this study was to explore how VPA levels affect beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB) level...
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Epilepsia Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13138 |
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| author | Stacey Tarrant Aurelija Liubauske Guangyu Zhu Bo Zhang Heidi Pfeifer Ann Paris Ann M. Bergin Anna L. Pinto |
| author_facet | Stacey Tarrant Aurelija Liubauske Guangyu Zhu Bo Zhang Heidi Pfeifer Ann Paris Ann M. Bergin Anna L. Pinto |
| author_sort | Stacey Tarrant |
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| description | Abstract Ketogenic diet (KD) therapy is an effective treatment for children with refractory epilepsy. Concurrent treatment with KD and valproic acid (VPA) has previously been shown to affect VPA blood levels. The aim of this study was to explore how VPA levels affect beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels of children treated with both. We identified 36 children <18 years old concurrently treated with VPA and classic KD between 2018 and 2022. Retrospective data collected from the medical record: date of birth, sex, feeding method, diet initiation and discontinuance dates, VPA initiation and discontinuance dates; and serial weights, KD ratios, levocarnitine dosages, VPA dosages, and BHB, free carnitine, and VPA levels. Repeated‐measure data was assessed using univariate and multivariate linear mixed‐effects regression analysis. Results showed a statistically significant negative association between VPA and BHB levels based on a univariate LME regression analysis. Conversely, for each 1 mmol/L increase in BHB level, VPA level decreased by 6.39 μg/mL (p < 0.001). Our study indicates that VPA and BHB levels should be monitored closely for children on both treatments and treatment plans may need adjusting if seizure control is not achieved. Plain Language Summary This study focuses on children with epilepsy treated with both the ketogenic diet and VPA. It shows that as levels of VPA increase, blood ketone levels decrease, and vice versa. These results suggest that doctors should closely monitor these levels and potentially adjust treatment plans for children on both therapies if seizures are not well controlled. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6accebc2d2b845e3acaa70fa0179f21d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2470-9239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epilepsia Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-6accebc2d2b845e3acaa70fa0179f21d2025-08-20T02:12:07ZengWileyEpilepsia Open2470-92392025-04-0110261561910.1002/epi4.13138Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational studyStacey Tarrant0Aurelija Liubauske1Guangyu Zhu2Bo Zhang3Heidi Pfeifer4Ann Paris5Ann M. Bergin6Anna L. Pinto7Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Computer Science and Statistics University of Rhode Island Kingston Rhode Island USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USAAbstract Ketogenic diet (KD) therapy is an effective treatment for children with refractory epilepsy. Concurrent treatment with KD and valproic acid (VPA) has previously been shown to affect VPA blood levels. The aim of this study was to explore how VPA levels affect beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels of children treated with both. We identified 36 children <18 years old concurrently treated with VPA and classic KD between 2018 and 2022. Retrospective data collected from the medical record: date of birth, sex, feeding method, diet initiation and discontinuance dates, VPA initiation and discontinuance dates; and serial weights, KD ratios, levocarnitine dosages, VPA dosages, and BHB, free carnitine, and VPA levels. Repeated‐measure data was assessed using univariate and multivariate linear mixed‐effects regression analysis. Results showed a statistically significant negative association between VPA and BHB levels based on a univariate LME regression analysis. Conversely, for each 1 mmol/L increase in BHB level, VPA level decreased by 6.39 μg/mL (p < 0.001). Our study indicates that VPA and BHB levels should be monitored closely for children on both treatments and treatment plans may need adjusting if seizure control is not achieved. Plain Language Summary This study focuses on children with epilepsy treated with both the ketogenic diet and VPA. It shows that as levels of VPA increase, blood ketone levels decrease, and vice versa. These results suggest that doctors should closely monitor these levels and potentially adjust treatment plans for children on both therapies if seizures are not well controlled.https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13138anti‐seizure medicationepilepsyketogenic dietvalproic acid |
| spellingShingle | Stacey Tarrant Aurelija Liubauske Guangyu Zhu Bo Zhang Heidi Pfeifer Ann Paris Ann M. Bergin Anna L. Pinto Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study Epilepsia Open anti‐seizure medication epilepsy ketogenic diet valproic acid |
| title | Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study |
| title_full | Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study |
| title_short | Exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet: An observational study |
| title_sort | exploring the effect of valproic acid levels on patients with epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet an observational study |
| topic | anti‐seizure medication epilepsy ketogenic diet valproic acid |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13138 |
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