Oxidative stress as a mechanism of valproic acid-associated hepatotoxicity

Valproic acid (2-n-propylpentanoic acid; VPA) has several therapeutic indications, but it is used primarily as all anticonvulsant. VPA is a relatively safe drug, but its use is associated with idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, which in some cases may lead to fatality. The underlying mechanism responsible for the hepatotoxicity is still not well understood, but various hypotheses have been proposed, including oxidative stress. This article discusses the experimental evidence oil the effect of VPA oil the various indices of oxidative stress and oil the potential role of oxidative stress in VPA-associated hepatotoxicity.