Neurology
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We studied the antiepileptic potency of vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl GABA, GVG) as an open trial in a group of 36 mentally handicapped patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (30 had seizures of partial onset and 6 had primary generalized [PG] tonic-clonic convulsions). With this treatment, 13 (43%) of the patients with seizures of partial onset and 2 (33%) with PG had more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency. The antiepileptic effect appeared during the first month of therapy and continued throughout the 7-month study. ⋯ GVG did not alter EEG recordings. Our results suggest that GVG is effective for treatment of intractable epilepsy, especially the partial type, in mentally retarded patients. Longer follow-up is needed, however, to determine that the clinical effect is maintained and that no severe side effects appear.