Analysis of the effect of valproic acid with different loading doses in treatment of children with status epilepticus

Objective To explore the effect of valproic acid with different loading doses in treatment of children with status epilepticus. Methods The data of children who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University because of status epilepticus from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017 were collected.All the patients were divided into different groups according to loading dose of valproic acid.The effect were analyzed in different groups. Results (1)There were 66 children with status epilepticus were admitted, including 35 males and 31 females.Among all children with status epilepticus, the etiology included epilepsy(n=36, 54.5%), intracranial infection(n=16, 24.2%), hypoxic asphyxia (n=3, 4.5%), intracranial tumor(n=2, 3.0%), abnormal brain development(n=2, 3.0%), intracranial hemorrhage(n=2, 3.0%), and etiology was not clear(n=5, 7.6%). (2)All children with status epilepticus were divided into four groups according to different valproic acid loading dose(0 mg/kg, 10-15 mg/kg, 16-39 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg). There are no significant differences in gender and age among groups.There were no significant differences in duration of status epilepticus and epileptic treatment efficiency(P=0.402, 0.034). (3)All children were monitored for liver function after the treatment of sodium valproate, and no patient had been found increased alanine aminotransferase. Conclusion There are no significant differences in the effect of different valproic acid loading doses in children with status epilepticus, and no adverse side effects are observed in children with status epilepticus who received a dose of 40 mg/kg. Key words: Status epilepticus; Valproic acid; Loading dose