title: Biochemical and clinical effects of gamma-vinyl GABA in patients with epilepsy.
abstract: In a pilot single-blind study, gamma-vinyl GABA, an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor of GABA-transaminase (GABA-T), was administered orally to 10 epileptic patients who were refractory to conventional anticonvulsant therapy. Daily doses of 1 g and 2 g for 2 weeks each as add-on therapy were followed by 2 weeks of placebo treatment. CSF obtained from suboccipital and lumbar punctures demonstrated dose-related increases in concentrations of free and total GABA and homocarnosine with treatment, but no changes in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid or homovanillic acid levels, indicating effective and selective CNS GABA-T inhibition. These biochemical changes were associated with decreased seizure frequency in seven patients, decreased seizure severity in one, no change in one, and possible worsening in one. gamma-Vinyl GABA may be useful in the therapy of epilepsy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000614:Aminocaproates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D020888:Vigabatrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000614:Aminocaproates; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D020888:Vigabatrin