Phenytoin toxicity associated with hypoalbuminemia in critically ill patients. 1994

J Lindow, and E F Wijdicks
Department of Neurology, Saint Mary's Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.

Four critically ill patients developed phenytoin toxicity. Hypoalbuminemia or concomitant displacing drugs resulted in an increased fraction of unbound drug. Clinical findings included gradual decrease in level of consciousness and cerebellar signs. Marked phenytoin toxicity can occur in critically ill patients with hypoalbuminemia and can often be detected only by direct measurement of free phenytoin levels.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010672 Phenytoin An anticonvulsant that is used to treat a wide variety of seizures. It is also an anti-arrhythmic and a muscle relaxant. The mechanism of therapeutic action is not clear, although several cellular actions have been described including effects on ion channels, active transport, and general membrane stabilization. The mechanism of its muscle relaxant effect appears to involve a reduction in the sensitivity of muscle spindles to stretch. Phenytoin has been proposed for several other therapeutic uses, but its use has been limited by its many adverse effects and interactions with other drugs. Diphenylhydantoin,Fenitoin,Phenhydan,5,5-Diphenylhydantoin,5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione,Antisacer,Difenin,Dihydan,Dilantin,Epamin,Epanutin,Hydantol,Phenytoin Sodium,Sodium Diphenylhydantoinate,Diphenylhydantoinate, Sodium
D004830 Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic A generalized seizure disorder characterized by recurrent major motor seizures. The initial brief tonic phase is marked by trunk flexion followed by diffuse extension of the trunk and extremities. The clonic phase features rhythmic flexor contractions of the trunk and limbs, pupillary dilation, elevations of blood pressure and pulse, urinary incontinence, and tongue biting. This is followed by a profound state of depressed consciousness (post-ictal state) which gradually improves over minutes to hours. The disorder may be cryptogenic, familial, or symptomatic (caused by an identified disease process). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p329) Epilepsy, Grand Mal,Epilepsy, Major,Grand Mal Seizure Disorder,Major Motor Seizure Disorder,Seizure Disorder, Tonic Clonic,Convulsions, Grand Mal,Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Familial,Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Symptomatic,Familial Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Grand Mal,Seizure Disorder, Major Motor,Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Tonic Clonic Convulsions,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Disorder,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Syndrome,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Disorder,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Syndrome,Convulsion Disorder, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion Disorders, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion, Grand Mal,Convulsion, Tonic Clonic,Convulsions, Tonic Clonic,Cryptogenic Tonic Clonic Epilepsy,Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Disorder, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Disorder, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Disorders, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Disorders, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsies, Familial Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsies, Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsies, Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Familial Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Tonic Clonic,Familial Tonic Clonic Epilepsy,Familial Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Grand Mal Convulsion,Grand Mal Convulsions,Grand Mal Epilepsy,Major Epilepsies,Major Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Tonic-Clonic,Seizure Disorders, Tonic-Clonic,Seizure Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic,Seizure Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic,Symptomatic Tonic Clonic Epilepsy,Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Tonic Clonic Convulsion,Tonic Clonic Convulsion Disorder,Tonic Clonic Convulsion Syndrome,Tonic Clonic Seizure Disorder,Tonic Clonic Seizure Syndrome,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Disorders,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Syndromes,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Familial,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Symptomatic,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Familial,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Symptomatic,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Disorders,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Syndromes
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old
D012709 Serum Albumin A major protein in the BLOOD. It is important in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure and transporting large organic molecules. Plasma Albumin,Albumin, Serum

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