Valproic acid intoxication imitating brain death

The declaration of brain death requires a standardized clinical neurologic examination and, importantly, the resolution of the underlying cause. Because sedative and anesthetic agents can closely mimic brain death, intoxications must be ruled out. Aspects of brain stem function, particularly the pupillary responses to light, remain intact in most cases of poisonings. Intoxications that cause a condition that fully mimics brain death have only been described in cases of intoxications with tricyclic antidepressants and barbiturates so far. We report the case of a 19-year-old man who presented with severe confusion and developed a deep coma over the next hours. Clinical examination revealed absence of all brain stem reflexes including missing pupillary responses to light. Blood analysis revealed a valproic acid intoxication with levels of 12,430 micromol/L (normal, 350-700 micromol/L) with concomitant severe hyperammonemia of 500 micromol/L (normal, <30 micromol/L), and treatment was initiated including the administration of L-carnitine and a continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Brain edema as the cause of absent brain stem reflexes was ruled out twice by computed tomography. After normalization of the serum levels, the patient had a full clinical recovery.