[Pharmacokinetic elements of sodium valproate. Use in febrile convulsions in children].

A pharmacokinetic study of sodium valproate (DPA) was undertaken in children treated with this drug after a febrile convulsion. In infants, after a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg body weight in the first morning meal, plasma kinetic data were as follows: T max 2.4 hr +/- 1.1; total DPA maximum plasma concentration: 94 micrograms/ml +/- 28; T 1/2: 12.4 hr +/- 4.9; the distribution volume was 0.25 l/kg +2- 0.07 and plasma clearance was 0.014 l/kg/hr +2- 0.004. Control of prolonged treatment showed that the measured plasma concentrations were not correlated with the daily dosage. Furthermore, when febrile convulsions are concerned, one should carefully weight the recently reported hepatic toxicity of DPA, against the usually good prognosis of febrile convulsions.