Plasma homovanillic acid levels in temporal lobe epilepsy

The role of the central dopaminergic system in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was investigated through measurement of plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) le vels. Plasma HVA levels in 30 patients with TLE were determined and compare d with those in 53 healthy control subjects. Their relationship with clinic al variables was investigated. The mean pHVA level of the TLE patients (9.4 4 +/- 3.44 ng/ml) was not significantly different from that of the normal c ontrol subjects (8.40 +/- 2.67 ng/ml). The differences were also nonsignifi cant when the patients were divided into subgroups according to seizure fre quency, the interval between blood sampling and the preceding or following seizure, paroxysm laterality in electroencephalogram, the number of antiepi leptic drugs administered, manifestation of psychotic symptoms, or antipsyc hotic medication. The obtained results were interpreted as indicating dopam inergic activities are not involved in the pathophysiology of TLE or decrea sed dopaminergic activities in TLE patients are balanced with compensatoril y increased dopaminergic activities for suppressing seizure generation. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.