Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P80404 (GABA transaminase)
 786 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Vigabatrin (VGB) is a novel antiepileptic drug effective as adjunctive therapy in patients with partial seizures. In this study, the efficacy and tolerability of VGB as adjunctive therapy were evaluated in patients with refractory epilepsy. Adult patients with a definite diagnosis of complex partial seizures and/or partial seizures secondarily generalized were recruited from 10 Canadian centres. Patients were randomized to receive either active medication or placebo in a double- blind fashion and entered a 36-week titration and maintenance phase with regularly scheduled visits. Both efficacy parameters and safety assessments were monitored. Clinical laboratory, evoked potential studies, MRI, and neuropsychological tests were also performed. Forty-eight percent of VGB-treated patients vs. 26 percent of placebo-treated patients had a 50 percent or greater reduction in the frequency of complex partial seizures and partial seizures secondarily generalized. Vigabatrin was well tolerated by the majority of patients. Minor neurological side effects were observed in a number of patients in both treatment groups. No serious systemic toxicity was observed. No changes in evoked potential studies or MRI findings were noted. Vigabatrin was found to be an effective and well-tolerated antiepileptic drug when used as adjunctive therapy in patients with difficult to control complex partial seizures and for partial seizures secondarily generalized. Vigabatrin is a selective irreversible inhibitor of the GABA- degradating enzyme GABA transaminase and has shown efficacy in a number of clinical trials in patients with difficult to control partial seizures. Vigabatrin has been found most effective against complex partial and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures in both adults and children. Vigabatrin has also been shown to reduce infantile spasms secondary to various aetiologies and is most effective in spasms associated with tuberous sclerosis. The aim of this study was to further extend the clinical experience with VGB as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adult patients with difficult to control complex partial seizures and/or partial seizures secondarily generalized. In addition to the assessments of efficacy and tolerability to VGB, neuropsychological evaluations were also carried out.
 ...
PMID:Vigabatrin as add-on therapy for adult complex partial seizures: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study. The Canadian Vigabatrin Study Group. 1077 31

Vigabatrin (VGB) was found to be an effective anti-epileptic drug to reduce infantile spasms in about 50% of patients and it has been found most effective in infantile spasms due to tuberous sclerosis (TSC) in which up to 95% of infants had complete cessation of their spasms. VGB was synthesized to enhance inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) transmission by elevating GABA levels via irreversible inhibition of GABA transaminase. The mechanism underlying the particular efficacy of VGB in TSC is still unknown. However, its efficacy suggests that epileptogenesis in TSC may be related to an impairment of GABAergic transmission. VGB should be considered as the first line monotheraphy for the treatment of infantile spasms in infants with confirmed diagnosis of TSC. The efficacy of VGB treatment can be assessed in less than 10 days, but usually a few days treatment with a dose of about 100 mg/kg/day stops infantile spasms. The cessation of the spasms is associated with a marked improvement of behaviour and mental development. Unfortunately, it has become clear that the use of VGB is associated with a late appearance of visual-field defects in up to 50% of patients. Currently the minimum duration and doses of VGB treatment that can produce side effects are unknown. The feasibility of using short treatment periods (2-3 months) should be investigated.
 ...
PMID:Vigabatrin for tuberous sclerosis complex. 1170 Dec 71

Vigabatrin (VGB), a selective irreversible inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase, has proved to be effective against cryptogenic and symptomatic infantile spasms (IS). Unfortunately, reports of serious visual field defects have led to a drastic reduction in the use of the drug. This review is based on a systematic search in the literature for evidence regarding efficacy and safety of VGB in IS. Based on a specific mechanism of action, there is a solid evidence of clinical efficacy of VGB in children with Tuberous Sclerosis. Similarly, VGB could represent a potential effective therapy also for spasms due to focal cortical dysplasia. In infants with spasms due to other causes, the risk of ophthalmologic toxicity should be carefully weighted against the benefit of controlling spasms.
 ...
PMID:Current role of vigabatrin in infantile spasms. 1762 36