Parmeggiani Antonia, Posar Annio, Sangiorgi Simonetta, Giovanardi-Rossi Paola
Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Ugo Foscolo 7, 40123, Bologna, Italy
Brain Dev. 2004 Jan;26(1):63-6. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(03)00074-3.
We describe the case of a 10-year-old girl with two epileptic seizures and subcontinuous spike-waves during sleep, who presented unusual side-effects related to clobazam (CLB) monotherapy. High plasma levels of N-desmethyl-clobazam (N-CLB), the major metabolite of CLB were detected. The patient and her parents underwent molecular analysis of the CYP2C19 gene, which may be implicated in the metabolism of this drug. Our patient presents one copy of the most common mutation (CYP2C19*2) affecting the activity of the isoenzyme and probably another rare or private mutation. CLB and N-CLB plasma level dosages and molecular analysis may be useful when a poor metabolic condition is suspected.