re: query by Gerard Boran:-
All our neurologists agree that valproate assay is very rarely of any
clinical use in patients with epilepsy.
We have virtually withdrawn our valproate service as an effective way to
reduce it, because in practice most requests come from the GP's, or their
staff. (We keep a special proviso to allow rare one-off "compliance"
assays.)
However, our psychiatrists seem to think they need valproate assays to
monitor its use in patients with bipolar affective disorders. I admit that
I don't really know their literature on this, but the bits I've seen so far
remind me of evidence-free botany.
Does anyone else know of relevant evidence in this area, please?
Dr Les Culank,
Consultant Chemical Pathologist.
Dept of Clinical Biochemistry, Addenbrooke's Hospital
Cambridge UK CB2 2QR
Tel: +44 (0)1223.217153 fax: 216862
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|