Trial of amino-oxyacetic acid, an anticonvulsant.

It has been shown experimentally that the drug amino-oxyacetic acid (AOA) can raise the level of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Since GABA is a powerful neuronal inhibitor it seemed worth while to assess the value of AOA as an anticonvulsant.This drug was given to 23 infants and children, all but one of whom were resistant to usual anticonvulsant medication. The types of seizure patterns were classed as major (including focal) and minor (akinetic, myoclonic and hypsarrhythmic) and the patients were followed for up to one year. Of eight children with major seizures, five were improved; of eight with minor seizures, three were improved; and of six with hypsarrhythmia, none were improved. One patient with phenylketonuria and minor seizures was improved.It is concluded that this approach to anticonvulsant therapy is worth pursuing and that the drug may also find some use in the treatment of phenylketonuria and of seizures due to vitamin B(6) dependency.