Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning

Phenytoin is frequently used as an anticonvulsant. Phenytoin has saturable metabolic kinetics in overdose circumstances, making therapy challenging. Because of its high protein binding property, the usual hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are not usually preferred. We report a case of a chronic overdos...

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Main Authors: Purshotam Paudel, Dibyajyoti Sahoo, Abhishekh Basavarajegowda, Raushan Afroz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-11-01
Series:Global Journal of Transfusion Medicine
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/gjtm.gjtm_44_24
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author Purshotam Paudel
Dibyajyoti Sahoo
Abhishekh Basavarajegowda
Raushan Afroz
author_facet Purshotam Paudel
Dibyajyoti Sahoo
Abhishekh Basavarajegowda
Raushan Afroz
author_sort Purshotam Paudel
collection DOAJ
description Phenytoin is frequently used as an anticonvulsant. Phenytoin has saturable metabolic kinetics in overdose circumstances, making therapy challenging. Because of its high protein binding property, the usual hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are not usually preferred. We report a case of a chronic overdose in which an attempt was made to decrease the toxicity and lower plasma levels of phenytoin using plasmapheresis. A 60-year-old female with a history of seizure disorder on phenytoin for the last 25 years and asthma for 15 years on salbutamol when needed presented with a sudden onset of vomiting followed by altered sensorium in the form of drowsiness and decreased responsiveness. She was suspected of having phenytoin toxicity and given a stomach elsewhere. Her phenytoin level after admission to our center was 46 mg/mL (therapeutic range: 10–20 mg/mL). The initial assessment of the patient was done by the treating physician. As the patient did not improve with supportive management, the transfusion medicine department received the request to conduct a therapeutic plasmapheresis. The first session of plasmapheresis was performed using the Haemonetics MCS machine. After the procedure, her phenytoin level decreased by 43% from the baseline, and she was shifted out of the intensive care unit to the ward and discharged after 2 weeks.
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spelling doaj-art-e57297c4daa2499e800c8c96a42f3d9c2025-08-20T02:19:34ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsGlobal Journal of Transfusion Medicine2468-83982455-88932024-11-019215816010.4103/gjtm.gjtm_44_24Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin PoisoningPurshotam PaudelDibyajyoti SahooAbhishekh BasavarajegowdaRaushan AfrozPhenytoin is frequently used as an anticonvulsant. Phenytoin has saturable metabolic kinetics in overdose circumstances, making therapy challenging. Because of its high protein binding property, the usual hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are not usually preferred. We report a case of a chronic overdose in which an attempt was made to decrease the toxicity and lower plasma levels of phenytoin using plasmapheresis. A 60-year-old female with a history of seizure disorder on phenytoin for the last 25 years and asthma for 15 years on salbutamol when needed presented with a sudden onset of vomiting followed by altered sensorium in the form of drowsiness and decreased responsiveness. She was suspected of having phenytoin toxicity and given a stomach elsewhere. Her phenytoin level after admission to our center was 46 mg/mL (therapeutic range: 10–20 mg/mL). The initial assessment of the patient was done by the treating physician. As the patient did not improve with supportive management, the transfusion medicine department received the request to conduct a therapeutic plasmapheresis. The first session of plasmapheresis was performed using the Haemonetics MCS machine. After the procedure, her phenytoin level decreased by 43% from the baseline, and she was shifted out of the intensive care unit to the ward and discharged after 2 weeks.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/gjtm.gjtm_44_24phenytoinplasma exchangetoxicity
spellingShingle Purshotam Paudel
Dibyajyoti Sahoo
Abhishekh Basavarajegowda
Raushan Afroz
Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning
Global Journal of Transfusion Medicine
phenytoin
plasma exchange
toxicity
title Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning
title_full Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning
title_fullStr Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning
title_full_unstemmed Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning
title_short Plasmapheresis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Phenytoin Poisoning
title_sort plasmapheresis as an adjunctive therapy in phenytoin poisoning
topic phenytoin
plasma exchange
toxicity
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/gjtm.gjtm_44_24
work_keys_str_mv AT purshotampaudel plasmapheresisasanadjunctivetherapyinphenytoinpoisoning
AT dibyajyotisahoo plasmapheresisasanadjunctivetherapyinphenytoinpoisoning
AT abhishekhbasavarajegowda plasmapheresisasanadjunctivetherapyinphenytoinpoisoning
AT raushanafroz plasmapheresisasanadjunctivetherapyinphenytoinpoisoning