Reactions 710 - 18 Jul 1998

Oxcarbazepine

Hyponatraemia in a child: case reportA 12-year-old girl developed severe hyponatraemia and

hypochloraemia after she was treated for 3 months withoxcarbazepine 46 mg/kg [frequency of administration notstated] and valproic acid for seizures.

The patient presented with a deterioration in fine motorskills and slowed mental processes. Her serum level of10-hydroxycarbazepine, the active metabolite ofoxcarbazepine, was 95 µmol/L. An electroencephalogram(EEG) showed marked slowing of the background activitycompared to a baseline EEG. Her serum sodium level was 118mmol/L and her serum chloride level was 81 mmol/L.

Oxcarbazepine was withdrawn and the girl’s electrolytesnormalised rapidly. Her EEG background activity becamefaster, with a corresponding improvement in her mentalalertness within the next 3 days. She resumed treatment withcarbamazepine a few weeks later, with no further sequelae.

Author comment: Children may be at risk of developinghyponatraemia during oxcarbazepine therapy and thereforesodium levels should be carefully monitored.Borusiak P, et al. Hyponatremia induced by oxcarbazepine in children. EpilepsyResearch 30: 241-246, May 1998 - Germany 800688113

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Reactions 18 Jul 1998 No. 7100114-9954/10/0710-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved