Abstract
We determined the Michaelis-Menten parameters (Vmax and Km) in 271 Saudi epileptic patients having generalized tonic-clonic seizures and who were treated with phenytoin (PHT) using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The patients comprised 150 (55.4%) males and 121 (44.6%) females, with a mean age of 31.7 years (SD = 18.5). The mean Vmax for subjects less than 16 years of age was 10.35 mg/kg/day (SD = 0.73, range = 3.77-17.01), while for those above 16 years, the mean value was 7.99 mg/kg/day (SD = 0.15, range = 3.68-15.95). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Vmax was positively correlated with weight (r = 0.953), but negative with age (r = -0.903). Km values ranged from 1.01-20.87 mg/litre. The adult Km mean of 6.52 mg/l (SD = 0.24) was significantly higher than the mean of 4.79 mg/l (SD = 0.40) for pediatric patients (P < 0.01), but Km was correlated neither with age nor with weight. Our results showed no difference between the predicted and observed serum PHT concentrations in both the pediatric and adult patients when the respective age group Km and Vmax values were used to adjust PHT doses. The pediatric cases, however, required 30% more PHT per kilogram of body weight than the adults for the achievement of similar serum concentrations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
