Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27747801›Full record

ArticleDrugs - real world outcomes2016

Comparison of Serum Total Valproic Acid Levels and %CDT Values in Chronic Alcohol Addictive Patients in an Italian Clinic: A Retrospective Study.

Vincenzo De Iuliis, Raimondo Gelormini, Mariarosaria Flacco, Giuseppe Moriello, Marika Caruso, Eugenia Barone, Maria Golato, Elena Toniato, Pio Conti, Stefano Martinotti

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drugs - real world outcomes, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Vincenzo De IuliisUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Raimondo GelorminiUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Mariarosaria FlaccoUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Giuseppe MorielloUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Marika CarusoUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Eugenia BaroneUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Maria GolatoUnit of Clinical Pathology, SS Annunziata University Hospital, ASL Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Elena ToniatoDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnologic Sciences, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy.
Pio ContiImmunology Division, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Chieti, Viale Unità d'Italia 73, Chieti, Italy.
Stefano MartinottiDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnologic Sciences, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, Italy. smartinotti@unich.it.
University of Chieti-Pescara · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundValproate is a broad-spectrum anticonvulsant that is effective in the treatment of tonic-clonic, myoclonic and absence seizures as well as in partial seizures as a second-line drug. It has been widely demonstrated in the literature that the effect of valproate on type-A γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA-A) receptors may reduce relapse to ethanol abuse. This retrospective study evaluated a 3-year period in which 42 patients from the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (DASA) were treated with valproate.

objectivesWe compared different serum total valproic acid (VPA) concentrations, and the effectiveness of this drug in maintaining alcohol abstinence was evaluated by percentage of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (%CDT) values.

methodCDT is a biochemical marker used for identifying regular high alcohol consumption and monitoring abstinence in outpatients during treatment. Serum concentrations of valproate were divided into four groups: <10, 10-30, 31-50, and >50 µg/mL.

resultsThis study shows that a mean serum total VPA concentration >30 µg/mL is more effective in maintaining alcohol abstinence than a lower one (p < 0.05). In this study, mean serum total VPA concentrations between 31 and 50 µg/mL showed the same effectiveness as higher ones (>50 µg/mL); in fact, there was no significant difference in mean %CDT values between these two groups (p > 0.05). After at least 12 months' treatment with valproate, mean platelet counts increased by 12 × 10

conclusionA mean serum total concentration lower than the currently accepted therapeutic level (50-100 µg/mL) may have the same effectiveness in maintaining alcohol abstinence with a lower risk of presenting side effects.

Identifiers

PMID27747801
PMCPMC4819473
OpenAlexW2287079068

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.