Manipulation of cerebral monoamines in the treatment of human epilepsy: a pilot study.
The effects of L-DOPA, L-tryptophan, monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), and MAOI plus L-tryptophan, each for 3 months, have been assessed in 10 severe, adult epileptics with placebo control. There was no overall reduction in seizure frequency, but 2 patients with minor partial seizures improved, 1 with L-DOPA, MAOI, and MAOI plus L-tryptophan, and the other with L-tryptophan and MAOI plus L-tryptophan. We have not been able to demonstrate an increased turnover of cerebral serotonin (5-HT), as measured by cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, after treatment with L-tryptophan for 3 months. This observation casts doubt on the ability of L-tryptophan to alter the long-term metabolism and functional activity of brain 5-HT. The importance of further exploration of manipulation of cerebral monoamines as a possible approach to the treatment of epilepsy is emphasized.
D000328:Adult; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000097:blood; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012701:Serotonin; D002220:Carbamazepine; D007980:Levodopa; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D006719:Homovanillic Acid