Aminoaciduria resulting from vigabatrin administration in children with epilepsy

Vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl gamma aminobutyric acid), a recently developed anti epileptic drug, has been extensively evaluated in the treatment of drug-res istant epilepsy, Several case reports demonstrated that vigabatrin affects urinary excretion of several amino and organic acids. Fourteen children wer e investigated for the presence of abnormal urinary amino acids before and after treatment,vith vigabatrin, All demonstrated increased urinary excreti on of amino acids, particularly beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and beta-aminoisobutyric acid while on vigabatrin, which were not detected when off medication. These results emphasize the importance of obtaining urine for metabolic evaluation before the administration of vigabatrin. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.