Hypoalbuminemia with valproic acid administration

Valproic acid and its derivatives are commonly administered antiepileptic drugs for children and adults. Five residents at a children's long-term care facility manifested hypoalbuminemia while being administered divalproex, although serum liver function test results and urinalysis results were normal. When the patients were free from valproic acid, the serum albumin levels increased into the normal range (17-30% higher than the serum albumin levels while patients were receiving valproic acid) despite the absence of any dietary changes. Comparing the serum albumin levels for eight residents who received divalproex (3.1 gm/dL +/- 0.4 gm/dL) with the serum albumin levels for 13 residents who were not receiving valproic acid or its derivatives (3.8 gm/dL +/- 0.2 gm/dL), the difference was significant (P < 0.001). This difference could not be accounted for by nutritional, environmental, laboratory, or urinary causes. In this study, divalproex administration was a contributing factor in the development of reversible hypoalbuminemia in this population of severely disabled, neurologically injured children and young adults. Further studies are required to determine the exact etiology and clinical significance of valproate-mediated hypoalbuminemia.