DETECTION BY HPLC-ICP OF METALLOTHIONEIN IN SERUM OF AN EPILEPTIC-CHILD WITH VALPROATE-ASSOCIATED HEPATOTOXICITY

A patient who developed valproate-associated hepatotoxicity had signif icantly lower serum levels of total protein, albumin and selenium than the controls. This study shows that with the beginning of the hepatic coma metallothionein (MT) appeared in the serum mainly in the form of Zn-thionein, which altered the Zn distribution pattern of the serum i n a characteristic manner. HPLC-ICP3 was successfully applied to the s imultaneous speciation of elements and characterization of MT by the u se of one gel permeation column.