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The Relationship of Serum Albumin Level to Phenytoin Toxicity
Author(s) -
Black Jimmy,
Hannaman Tony,
Malone Christine
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1987.tb02194.x
Subject(s) - phenytoin , toxicity , albumin , pharmacology , anticonvulsant , free fraction , medicine , therapeutic index , serum albumin , drug , chemistry , pharmacokinetics , epilepsy , psychiatry
Phenytoin (DPH) is a commonly used anticonvulsant that can be associated with potentially serious toxicity when serum concentrations exceed 20 μg/mL. Phenytoin is also highly protein‐bound and exhibits dose‐dependent absorption characteristics. The therapeutic effect and the degree of toxicity are dependent on free phenytoin concentrations (free fraction), which in turn depend on the degree or percentage of binding to serum albumin. We report a case in which the effects of profound DPH toxicity were attenuated after the intravenous administration of albumin. We comment on the importance of gastric lavage in the decontamination of patients with acute drug overdose.