Chronic Sodium Valproate Intake to Treat Epilepsy Inducing Hyperammonaemia Encephalopathy

Abstract:  Sodium valproate, frequently prescribed as an antiepileptic, can cause encephalopathy secondary to hyperammonia, even after chronic use. We report the case of a 75-year-old patient with Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy presenting a coma without deficit, with a normal cerebral morphological work-up, an electroencephalogram ruling out status epilepticus, a cerebrospinal fluid culture ruling out neuromeningeal infection, and a normal metabolic work-up apart from hyperammonia explained by sodium valproate intake.