Epilepsy Research
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 231-236, July 1995

Seizure frequency and CSF parameters in a double-blind placebo controlled trial of gabapentin in patients with intractable complex partial seizures

  • Elinor Flen-Menachem

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Dept. of Neurology, Sahlgren University Hospital, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel.: 46 31-601000; Fax: 46 31-211552.
    • Department of Neurology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden
    • ,
  • Birgitta Söderfelt

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Linköpings University, Linköping, Sweden
    • ,
  • Anders Hamberger

      Affiliations

    • Department of Histology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden
    • ,
  • Tomas Hedner

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden
    • ,
  • Lennart I. Persson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

Received 10 October 1994; received in revised form 16 March 1995; accepted 2 April 1995.

Abstract 

Gabapentin (GBP) is a non-protein-bound gamma amino acid which is not subjected to metabolic degradation in man. As part of a placebo-controlled double-blind study, patients suffering from intractable complex partial seizures with or without secondary generalization were followed with lumbar punctures at baseline and after three months of GBP treatment (900 mg/day or 1200 mg/day). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed for concentrations of GBP, amino acids including GABA, homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The results indicate that there were no changes in the selected amino acids, HVA, or 5-HIAA after GBP treatment. At steady state the CSF/plasma ratios of GBP ranged from 0.056 to 0.34, indicating that there may be some type of active out-transport of GBP across the blood-brain barrier. No linear relationship was observed between plasma and CSF levels in these patients.

Keywords:  Gabapentin, Complex partial seizure, Cerebrospinal fluid, Amino acid

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PII: 0920-1211(95)00026-7

Epilepsy Research
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 231-236, July 1995

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