Valproic acid binding to human serum albumin and determination of free fraction in the presence of anticonvulsants and free fatty acids.

The interaction between valproic acid (VPA) and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated using the equilibrium dialysis technique under various conditions. Solutions of VPA in HSA (2 x 10(-4) M) were dialyzed against isotonic phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C. Protein and buffer compartments were assayed for VPA by GLC. The free fraction (alpha) of VPA increased from 0.13 at 27 microgram/ml to 0.49 at 103 microgram/ml. Scatchard plots were linear, indicating the existence of one type of binding site. The mean (+/- % SD) number of binding sites per macromolecule was 2.06 +/- 3.7% and the mean (+/- % SD) association constant was 2.69 x 10(4) +/- 15.0% liters/mole. The effects of three anticonvulsants (phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine) and four major free fatty acids (FFA) (stearic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic) on alpha were studied. The free fraction, 0.18, was not affected by phenobarbital (20 and 40 microgram/ml), carbamazepine (10 and 20 microgram/ml) or phenytoin (20 and 40 microgram/ml). Each of the four FFA caused a significant increase in alpha: 19--48% increase at 100 microgram/ml of FFA and 88--118% at 200 microgram/ml.