Findings in routine laboratory examination in progressive myoclonus epilepsy

Thirty-one patients suffering from progressive myoclonus epilepsy, (also called Unverricht-Lundborg's disease) without Lafora bodies, were examined to check the findings reported in literature and to chart out the main abnormalities in routine laboratory findings. Many alterations could be pointed out, but a high proportion of them were due to factors which are secondary to the syndrome of progressive myoclonus epilepsy: continuous anticonvulsive medication; immobilization; frequent infections; and the patient's poor nutritional condition. The most remarkable finding, and the only one which supported the abnormality reported earlier, was the raised excretion of indican which could not be explained by fermentation in the bowels. The urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion was a little low, but still within the normal range. The tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism deserves further investigation in attempting to discover the aetiology of progressive myoclonus epilepsy.