[Cerebral form of glutamate dehydrogenase activity in autonomic paroxysms (attacks of panic)]

A study was made of the activity of the cerebral form of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in 59 patients suffering from vegetative paroxysms (VP), 8 patients with multiple sclerosis and 15 normal test subjects. As compared to the normal test subjects, the patients with VP manifested higher activity and lability of the enzyme. The patients with VP demonstrating the "labile" and "stable" enzyme were subjected to a clinicopsychological analysis which revealed a graver disease course and more pronounced anxiety in the group with the "stable" enzyme. The role of GDH in the pathogenesis of VP is under discussion.