Carnitine level in Chinese epileptic patients taking sodium valproate

Previous studies have demonstrated that carnitine levels were lower in patients taking valproate, especially in those who are younger than 24 months of age, those with concomitant neurologic or metabolic disorders, and those on multiple antiepileptic drugs. We performed a cross-sectional surveillance study on pediatric patients taking valproate to evaluate the relationship between carnitine levels and demographic data including age, daily dosage of valproate, number of antiepileptic drugs, body mass index, and feeding problems. Among the 43 patients studied, only two patients were found to have carnitine levels below the normal limit. There were no statistically significant associations between carnitine levels and age, body mass index, additional antiepileptic drugs used, presence of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or feeding problems, nonambulatory status, or dosage of valproate. We conclude that routine carnitine level checking is not justified in pediatric patients taking valproate.