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Case Reports: Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease
Unusual case of sodium valproate-induced hyperammonaemia encephalopathy
  1. Shristhi Ranjith1,
  2. Hesitha Abeysundera1,2 and
  3. Hilary Jeyaranjan1
  1. 1Psychiatry, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia
  2. 2Griffith University School of Medicine and Dentistry, Southport, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Hesitha Abeysundera; drhesitha{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

There is limited information about sodium valproate-induced hyperammonaemia encephalopathy (VPAIHE). The aim of this case report is to provide medical practitioners with a greater awareness of the possible development of hyperammonaemia due to sodium valproate use and its associated complications.

This paper describes a middle-aged man with a history of bipolar affective disorder who was admitted with a manic relapse secondary to medication non-compliance. His admission was complicated by an intensive care unit admission to manage medical compromise in the context of sodium VPAIHE.

  • Drug interactions
  • Psychiatry (drugs and medicines)
  • Medical education
  • Medical management

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2023-256796

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. HJ is the consultant psychiatrist who treated the patient at the hospital and SR was the registrar attached to the team. HA is a consultant psychiatrist who worked in the same health service. HA and SR designed the case report and helped in writing the report. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.