Platelet GABA-aminotransferase in epileptic patients.

Platelet GABA-aminotransferase (GABA-T) activity was determined in 12 adults (six healthy volunteers and six long-term treated epileptic patients) and 17 children (six non-epileptic, and 11 long-term treated epileptic patients). Platelet GABA-T activity was about 60% higher in the epileptic patients than in the controls, both in adults (14.7 +/- 8.6 versus 8.8 +/- 3.5 pmol/min/mg of protein,) and children (13.1 +/- 4.8 versus 8.3 +/- 3.3 pmol/min/mg of protein, p less than 0.05). The relationship between this increase and either epilepsy or anti-epileptic treatment should be clarified in further studies.