Sodium valproate -- induced skeletal myopathy.

ABSTRACT

The authors report a case of skeletal myopathy in a four-year-old boy on long-term sodium valproate therapy for secondary epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis. He presented with clinical features of limb girdle weakness. EMG revealed features of myopathy. Carnitine deficiency due to sodium valproate was suspected and plasma carnitine levels were found to be low. Sodium valproate was withdrawn. L-carnitine supplementation resulted in marked clinical recovery as well as rise in plasma carnitine levels.