Abstract
Bromide (Br) serum concentrations were determined by the spectrophotometric assay in patients with epilepsy to whom Br and other antiepileptic drugs were administered. Serum samples or standard solutions (0-2, 000μg/ml) were pretreated by adding perchloric acid, and were centrifuged. Twenty μl of the supernatant was transferred to the 10ml test tube, and 0.2mol/l acetate buffer (pH5.5) and 0.625mmol/l sodium fluorescein were added to it. After 200μl of 8mmol/l chloramine-T solution was added and was incubated for 10min, the reaction was stopped by adding sodium thiosulfate and sodium carbonate solution. The absorbance was determined at 520nm by spectrophotometer. Coefficients of variations (CVs) were 1.7 to 2.2% in within-day assay (n=10) and 3.5 to 4.9% in between-day assay (10 days). The recovery rate of Br ranged from 91.5 to 109.9% (mean 102.7%). This method was not interfered by other various anti-epileptic drugs. We observed that epileptic attacks were clearly suppressed by KBr administration in a patient with intractable epilepsy who had not been controlled by high doses of valproate-Na and phenobarbital therapy. In this patient, Br serum concentration for suppressing the epileptic attacks was from 1, 560 to 1, 640μg/ml. The present method for determining Br serum concentration was so simple, rapid and accurate, i. e., being useful for monitoring the Br serum concentration in the therapy of epilepsy.
