We describe three patients with seizure disorders in whom pancreatitis or pancreatic injury was probably caused by valproic acid, a widely used anticonvulsant drug. Trivial or no increases of serum amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) but striking increases of serum lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) were common to all patients, as assayed in the Kodak Ektachem. In vitro, valproic acid does not cause any change in serum lipase. In patients with symptoms suggestive of pancreatitis and abnormal values for amylase and (or) lipase, treatment with valproic acid should be discontinued.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.