Molecular and Therapeutic Potential and Toxicity of Valproic Acid

Overview

Journal J Biomed Biotechnol

Specialty Biology

Date 2010 Aug 28

PMID 20798865

Citations 179

Authors

Sebastien Chateauvieux

Franck Morceau

Mario Dicato

Marc Diederich

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Valproic acid (VPA), a branched short-chain fatty acid, is widely used as an antiepileptic drug and a mood stabilizer. Antiepileptic properties have been attributed to inhibition of Gamma Amino Butyrate (GABA) transaminobutyrate and of ion channels. VPA was recently classified among the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors, acting directly at the level of gene transcription by inhibiting histone deacetylation and making transcription sites more accessible. VPA is a widely used drug, particularly for children suffering from epilepsy. Due to the increasing number of clinical trials involving VPA, and interesting results obtained, this molecule will be implicated in an increasing number of therapies. However side effects of VPA are substantially described in the literature whereas they are poorly discussed in articles focusing on its therapeutic use. This paper aims to give an overview of the different clinical-trials involving VPA and its side effects encountered during treatment as well as its molecular properties.

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