| Title : A preliminary investigation on the possible association between diminished copper availability and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in epileptic patients treated with valproic acid - Lampon_2011_Ups.J.Med.Sci_116_148 |
| Author(s) : Lampon N , Tutor JC |
| Ref : Ups J Med Sci , 116 :148 , 2011 |
| Abstract : BACKGROUND: Patients treated with valproic acid (VPA) present a high incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (around 61%). Several recent studies suggest that low copper stores could be associated with NAFLD, and a significant decrease of copper availability in VPA-treated patients has been described. DESIGN AND METHODS: In 101 adult epileptic patients treated with valproic acid in monotherapy (n = 75) and polytherapy (n = 26) the copper availability was evaluated using the specific oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin (activity per unit mass of enzyme protein) and the copper/ceruloplasmin ratio. Copper deficiency was supposed in the cases in which this biochemical variable was smaller than the lower reference limit (333 U/g). RESULTS: The differences between the groups of patients with ceruloplasmin oxidase activity smaller or greater than 333 U/g for the serum levels of aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, butyrylcholinesterase, cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein, and the APRI and FIB-4 liver fibrosis scores were not statistically significant. Most patients (93%) had low APRI and FIB-4 scores, suggesting absence of significant liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained do not confirm the hypothesis of an association between diminished copper availability and NAFLD in patients treated with valproic acid. |
| ESTHER : Lampon_2011_Ups.J.Med.Sci_116_148 |
| PubMedSearch : Lampon_2011_Ups.J.Med.Sci_116_148 |
| PubMedID: 21190397 |
Lampon N, Tutor JC (2011)
A preliminary investigation on the possible association between diminished copper availability and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in epileptic patients treated with valproic acid
Ups J Med Sci
116 :148
Lampon N, Tutor JC (2011)
Ups J Med Sci
116 :148