title: Platelet GABA-transaminase in epileptic children: influence of epilepsy and anticonvulsants.
abstract: The relationship between platelet GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) activity and either epilepsy or its treatment has been studied in 281 epileptic children: 55 were newly diagnosed untreated patients and 226 were chronically receiving anticonvulsants (154 in monotherapy and 72 in polytherapy). Results were compared with those from 48 control children. Untreated children had a GABA-T activity of 9.1 +/- 3.7 pmol/min/mg protein, lower than the control group (10.6 +/- 3.8 pmol/min/mg, P < 0.05), whereas treated epileptic children had higher values (11.9 +/- 6.3 pmol/min/mg) than those untreated (P < 0.01). In untreated children, the seven with absences and the nine with simple partial seizures had a GABA-T activity of 6.9 +/- 3.3 and 7.8 +/- 3.2 pmol/min/mg, respectively, lower than the control group (P < 0.05). In treated patients, those receiving valproate (VPA) in monotherapy had a GABA-T activity of 15.3 +/- 7.5 pmol/min/mg, higher than both the control group and the untreated children (P < 0.001). All patients receiving VPA in mono- or polytherapy had a higher activity than those receiving other anticonvulsants (16.4 +/- 8.4 vs. 9.9 +/- 3.9 pmol/min/mg, P < 0.001), the activity in Lennox syndrome and myoclonic epilepsies being significantly higher than in those with absences and partial epilepsy. GABA-T activity did not correlate with doses or trough steady-state serum levels of VPA. Platelet GABA-T could be useful as a peripheral marker of GABAergic alterations and GABAergic effects of antiepileptic drugs in epileptic patients.
authors.affiliation: Neuropediatrics Service, M. de Valdecilla Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Herranz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Armijo
mesh_terms: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase