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Asterixis as a side effect of carbamazepine therapy

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Summary

A patient developed asterixis 13 weeks after starting a therapy with carbamazepine. Serum concentration of carbamazepine was within the therapeutic levels. Further factors which might have provoked asterixis were an impairment of pulmonary function and the combination with a neuroleptic and lithium. Since the latter risk factors had already been present for a long time, it may be assumed that the addition of carbamzepine triggered the development of asterixis.

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Abbreviations

EEG:

Electro-encephalogram

GOT:

Glutamate oxalacetate transaminase

GPT:

Glutamate pyruvate transaminase

Gamma GT:

Gamma glytamyl transpeptidase

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatrische Abteilung, Wagner-Jauregg-Krankenhaus, Sektor 3, Linz, Österreich

    H. Rittmannsberger

  2. Abteilung neuro-psychiatrische Gerontologie, Wagner-Jauregg-Krankenhaus, Linz, Österreich

    F. Leblhuber

  3. Abteilung für medizinisch-chemische Labordiagnostik, Wagner-Jauregg-Krankenhaus, Linz, Österreich

    R. Sommer

Authors
  1. H. Rittmannsberger
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  2. F. Leblhuber
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  3. R. Sommer
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Rittmannsberger, H., Leblhuber, F. & Sommer, R. Asterixis as a side effect of carbamazepine therapy. Klin Wochenschr 69, 279–281 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666855

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666855

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