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[Acute psychosis and vigabatrin in childhood]
A Chiaretti1, M Castorina, L Tortorolo
1Sezione Autonoma di Terapia Intensiva Pediatrica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma, Italia.
Insights
Vigabatrin increases brain GABA levels, potentially aiding refractory epilepsy. However, this case highlights rare acute psychosis in a child treated with vigabatrin, warranting attention to behavioral changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Vigabatrin is an irreversible inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) aminotransferase.
- It increases GABA concentrations in the brain, showing potential for refractory epilepsy treatment.
- Behavioral disturbances, including psychosis, are documented with vigabatrin in adults but are uncommon in children.
Observation:
- This report details a case of acute psychosis in a pediatric patient undergoing vigabatrin treatment.
- The patient experienced significant behavioral changes during therapy.
Findings:
- The occurrence of acute psychosis in a child treated with vigabatrin is a notable adverse event.
- This contrasts with the generally lower incidence of such psychiatric side effects in pediatric populations.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be vigilant for behavioral changes, particularly psychosis, in children treated with vigabatrin.
- Further research may be needed to understand the risk factors and mechanisms of vigabatrin-induced psychosis in pediatric patients.
- This case underscores the importance of monitoring psychiatric well-being in pediatric epilepsy management.
Abstract:
Vigabatrin is an irreversible inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyrate (Gaba) aminotransferase, producing an increase in Gaba concentrations in the brain. It may prove to be an important drug in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, but would be payed attention to behavioural changes noted in association with vigabatrin treatment. Behaviour disturbances, as psychosis, associated to vigabatrin are ben described in adult patients, while are uncommon in childhood. We report a case of acute psychosis occurred in a child in treatment with vigabatrin.