Valproic acid-associated low fibrinogen and delayed intracranial hemorrhage: case report and mini literature review

Abstract

Hai-Fei Chen,1,2 Li-Ping Xu,1 Zhi-Yong Luo,1 Zi-Qiang Yu,2 Zheng-Yang Li,1 Qing-Ya Cui,1 Long-Mei Qin,1 Yong-Ya Ren,1 Hong-Shi Shen,1 Jie-Qing Tang,1 Ling-Juan Jin,1 Jing-Jing Zhu,1 Jing Wang,1 Ke-Yuan Wang,1 Tian-Qin Wu,1 Zhao-Yue Wang21Department of Hematology, 100th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, 2Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of ChinaAbstract: A 41-year-old male had suffered from gradual hearing loss in his right ear for 2 years. Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans showed a neoplasm in the cerebellopontine angle region, which was confirmed by the diagnosis of acoustic neurilemmoma by pathological findings after surgery. Following surgery, he routinely received valproic acid (VPA) to prevent seizures. However, the patient presented with hypofibrinogenemia and cerebral hemorrhage after taking VPA for 12 days. The hypofibrinogenemia recurred when VPA was re-administered. After withdrawal of VPA, his fibrinogen concentration rose to normal within several days. As far as we are aware, this is the first case of cerebral hemorrhage due to VPA to have been reported. Herein, as well as reporting on this case, a mini review of the relevant literature is also presented.Keywords: side effect, hypofibrinogenemia, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebellopontine angle, neoplasm