Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Glutamate Levels in the CSF of Epileptic Children

Thirty-one children divided into 3 groups were studied. Group I included 13 neurologically free children, aged 3-9 years and not receiving any medications. Group II consisted of 7 recently diagnosed non medicated epileptic children, aged 3.5-8 years. Eleven medicated epileptic children; aged 4-9 years represented group III. All children were examined thoroughly. EEG and brain CT scan were done for epileptic children. Gamma Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Glutamate levels in CSF were assessed for all children by HPLC. The mean CSF levels of GABA were lowest in non-medicated epileptic children. Control of the seizures by anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) was associated by a concomitant re-increase in the CSF GABA levels. The mean glutamate CSF levels did not differ significantly among the three studied groups. Nevertheless, it was noticed that the GABA / Glutamate ratio was higher in medicated than in non-medicated epileptic children. It could be concluded that CSF GABA levels as well as the GABA / Glutamate ratio can reliably monitor the epileptic control by pharmacotherapy.