Expanded Hemodialysis Using a Medium Cut-Off Dialyzer for Severe Valproic Acid Poisoning: A Case Report with Real-Time Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

Background

Valproic acid (VPA) poisoning has a dynamic clinical course and may require extracorporeal toxin removal (ECTR) in severe cases. Intermittent hemodialysis is the preferred ECTR technique; however, clinical experience with expanded hemodialysis (HDx) using medium cut-off (MCO) membranes in acute VPA intoxication is scarce. We describe a case of severe VPA poisoning managed with intermittent HDx and outline the clinical rationale and kinetic response. Case Report: A 54-year-old woman presented to the emergency department after accidental presumably ingesting approximately 4 g of VPA, with depressed consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale 7) and metabolic acidosis (pH 7.10, HCO3- 13 mmol/L, PCO2 50 mmHg, lactate 2.8 mmol/L, ionized calcium 0.8 mmol/L, elevated anion gap). Initial plasma VPA was 262.99 µg/mL, ammonia was 14 µmol/L, and cranial computed tomography showed no acute abnormalities. ECTR was initiated in the intensive care unit as intermittent HDx using an MCO dialyzer for 4 h. Serial VPA concentrations were obtained before treatment, at 2 h, and at the end of the session to guide real-time prescription adjustment, with an increase in blood flow from 200 to 230 mL/min.

Results

VPA decreased from 262.99 µg/mL pre-HD to 141.48 µg/mL at 2 h (46.2% reduction) and 97.81 µg/mL at 4 h (62.8% reduction), with clear improvement in the level of consciousness. A mild post-dialysis rebound was observed (100.07 µg/mL at 14 h). The patient recovered without additional ECTR and was discharged with normalized VPA levels on follow-up.

Conclusions

In this patient, intermittent HDx with an MCO membrane was feasible, well tolerated, and associated with rapid VPA clearance and neurological recovery. Serial drug monitoring enabled bedside optimization of the dialysis prescription and post-treatment evaluation. A single HDx session was sufficient, and VPA therapy was safely reintroduced under close monitoring.