salicylates and Epilepsy--Tonic-Clonic

Microdialysis was done on 300-400 g, awake, male rats with microdialysis probes inserted through guide cannulas into the striatum (Bregma co-ordinates A 0.5, L 2.9, D -4.0 for guide cannulas implanted 5 days previously). Rats were exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO; 6 atm absolute, 5 atm gauge pressure of oxygen with carbon dioxide absorbed by soda lime). Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) containing 5 mM sodium salicylate was perfused at 1 microl/min and collected over sequential 10 min intervals with rats breathing air, then HBO, and after decompression. Times to convulsions and duration and severity of convulsions were observed and recorded. CSF samples were analyzed for 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), reaction products of hydroxyl radicals with salicylate, by HPLC and compared to authentic standards. Recovery of DHBAs was 48% from fluid surrounding microdialysis probes, based on in vitro tests. The average time to the first convulsion was 21 min and rats convulsed an average of 4 times during 40 min in HBO. There were no significant differences in hydroxyl radical production by this protocol during any of the 10 min collection periods in air or HBO (average in pmoles for 10 microl of all samples: 2,3-DHBA = 7.0 +/- 2.5 and 2,5-DHBA = 11.3 +/- 4.1). The failure to detect an increase in hydroxyl radicals in HBO prior to or during convulsions appears valid since each rat served as its own control.

Topics: Air; Animals; Brain Chemistry; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Corpus Striatum; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Gentisates; Hydroxybenzoates; Hydroxyl Radical; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Male; Microdialysis; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Salicylates

Traditional medicine is practised to some degree in all cultures. Many different types of herbal preparations and "oils" are widely used in Malaysia, too. We report a case of acute salicylism due to accidental ingestion of one brand of such oils. Compulsory labelling of traditional drugs with their chemical ingredients is suggested for proper and timely management of such cases.

Topics: Blood Chemical Analysis; Drug Overdose; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Medicine, Traditional; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Salicylates

Topics: Blood; Blood Proteins; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Female; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; In Vitro Techniques; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Male; Phenytoin; Protein Binding; Salicylates; Serum Albumin; Umbilical Cord; Uremia

Topics: Adolescent; Anticonvulsants; Cerebral Angiography; Child; Epilepsies, Partial; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Absence; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Female; Humans; Male; Penicillins; Pneumoencephalography; Rheumatic Fever; Salicylates