Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase function in progressive myoclonus epilepsies.

Abstract

Progressive myoclonic epilepsies (EPM) are difficult to treat and refractory to most antiepileptic drugs. Besides epilepsy, EPMs also involve continuous neurological deterioration. Oxidative stress is thought to be an important factor in this process. We therefore analyzed a series of antioxidant enzymes in the blood of patients and compared with healthy age matched controls. In addition patients were given high doses of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione percursor to determine if symptoms of EPM would improve. Five patients, four with EPM 1 (Unverricht-Lundborg disease) and one patient with EPM2 (Lafora body disease) were treated with 6 g/day of NAC. Before treatment, plasma samples were analyzed for glutathione peroxidase activity, catalase activity, extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CuZn-SOD and compared with the controls. Erythrocyte CuZn-SOD was significantly lower in the EPM patients compared to controls. NAC improved markedly and stabilized the neurological symptoms in patients with EPM 1 but had a doubtful effect in the patient with EPM 2.

• Authors: E Ben-Menachem, M Kyllerman, S Marklund
• Journal: Epilepsy research (Epilepsy Res) Vol. 40 Issue 1 Pg. 33-9 (Jun 2000) ISSN: 0920-1211 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 10771256 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glutathione Peroxidase
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Acetylcysteine

Topics

• Acetylcysteine (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Epilepsies, Myoclonic (blood, drug therapy, enzymology, physiopathology)
• Erythrocytes (enzymology)
• Female
• Glutathione Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Humans
• Lafora Disease (blood, drug therapy, enzymology, physiopathology)
• Male
• Reference Values
• Superoxide Dismutase (metabolism)
• Unverricht-Lundborg Syndrome (drug therapy, metabolism, physiopathology)