Bone marrow suppression induced by high dose valproic acid

Abstract

A girl with intractable epilepsy who received high dose valproic acid showed bone marrow suppression, which improved after the end of valproic acid treatment and the administration of supportive treatments. Valproic acid markedly suppressed the in vitro colony growth in this patient. It is believed that high dose valproic acid treatment directly suppressed the growth of haematopoietic progenitors, resulting in bone marrow failure.