What is a normal Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) level in pediatric patients with a history of seizures on valproate therapy?

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Normal SGOT Levels in Children on Valproate Therapy

The provided evidence does not contain information about normal SGOT (AST) levels in children, either in the general pediatric population or specifically in those on valproate therapy.

What the Evidence Actually Addresses

The studies and guidelines provided focus exclusively on:

  • Seizure management protocols and valproate dosing strategies 1, 2, 3
  • Therapeutic valproate plasma levels (50-100 μg/mL standard range, with some evidence supporting levels up to 200 μg/mL in refractory cases) 4, 5
  • Pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of valproate 6, 7
  • Common adverse effects like tremor (20-40% incidence) and gastrointestinal symptoms 8, 6

Critical Gap in Evidence

None of the provided evidence discusses liver enzyme monitoring, SGOT/AST reference ranges, or hepatotoxicity surveillance in pediatric patients on valproate.

Clinical Context from General Medical Knowledge

While not addressed in the provided evidence, normal pediatric AST (SGOT) values typically range from:

  • Newborns: 25-75 U/L
  • Infants and children: 15-60 U/L
  • Adolescents: 10-40 U/L

These values vary by laboratory and methodology used.

Important Caveat

One study mentions valproate-associated hepatotoxicity risk in infants with undiagnosed metabolic conditions 9, but provides no specific guidance on normal enzyme levels or monitoring protocols.

The question cannot be adequately answered using the provided evidence, as it contains no information about SGOT/AST reference ranges in children.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Seizure Prevention and Management

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Sodium Valproate Dosage and Administration

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Research

Valproic acid in childhood epilepsy: anticonvulsive efficacy in relation to its plasma levels.

International journal of clinical pharmacology, therapy, and toxicology, 1980

Research

Expanded therapeutic range of valproate.

Pediatric neurology, 1987

Guideline

Frequency of Fine Tremor with Valproic Acid

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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