Kidney tubular injury induced by valproic acid: systematic literature review.

Background: Valproic acid is prescribed for epilepsy and as prophylaxis for bipolar disorder and migraine headaches. It has also been implicated as a cause of a kidney tubular injury.

Methods: We undertook a review of the literature to characterize the biochemical and histopathological features of the overt kidney tubular injury and to evaluate the possible existence of a pauci-symptomatic injury.