Abstract
A prospective study was performed of antiepileptic drug levels in 14 boys resident in a pediatric chronic care facility. Blood samples and 24-hour urine collections were obtained monthly. During febrile illness (temperature > 101 °F for more than 24 hours), six additional blood samples and two urine collections were obtained for each child. During 8 of 10 febrile illnesses, phenytoin (PHT) decreased more than 40% from pre-illness baseline. Mean PHT level before illness was 16.7 (± 4.5 μg/ml) and during illness, 8.2 (2 3.6 μg/ml), significantly lower (p < 0.001). Neither PHT binding nor absorption was altered by illness, so the most probable cause of the drop in PHT levels was induction of the hepatic oxidative enzyme system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1367-1370 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Neurology |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1986 |