Retrospective evaluation of the effect of valproate therapy on transaminase elevations in patients with hepatitis C.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a relationship exists between valproate treatment and transaminase elevations in patients who are positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV). DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Veterans affairs medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 214 HCV-positive patients; 28 were treated with valproate (study group), 186 were not (control group). INTERVENTION: Demographic characteristics; valproate treatment histories; plasma concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, and bilirubin; and exposure to other potentially hepatotoxic drugs, including probable alcohol abuse, were evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hepatotoxicity was staged by comparing maximum ALT and AST values against upper limits of normal or patients' mean elevated baseline ALT and AST values. Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Control patients and those with longer durations of HCV were more likely (p<0.0171 and p<0.0142, respectively) to exhibit higher stages of hepatotoxicity. More valproate-treated patients were exposed to other potential hepatotoxins at the time of peak transaminase elevations (50% vs 39%, p<0.005), whereas more control patients received two or more potential hepatotoxins (13% vs 4%, p<0.00005). CONCLUSION: Valproate treatment, either alone or in the presence of other potential hepatotoxins, does not appear to be related to increased transaminase elevations in patients with HCV