Process of Personalized Prescription of Valproic Acid as the Main Element of the Management of Epilepsy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a sequential process of personalized valproic acid (VPA) prescription in patients with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: We randomly selected 167 patients with epilepsy receiving VPA, based on carriage of CYP2C9*2 and/or CYP2C9*3 and therapeutic drug monitoring. The patients’ CYP2C9 status was determined by CYP2C9 genotyping before the beginning of anticonvulsant therapy. Results: The sequence of personalized valproic acid prescription has been developed. Conclusion: Using the sequential process of personalized VPA prescription will allow neurologists, psychiatrists and general practitioners to select starting and maintenance dosages of VPA with respect to the individual patient’s pharmacogenetic profile and thereby, significantly improve the safety of pharmacotherapy in epilepsy patients.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• CYP2C9
• valproic acid
• pharmacogenetics