Epilepsy: A new pathogenetic approach

Abstract

The importance of reactive oxygen metabolites(ROM) in cerebral metabolism and cereberal pathology has be¬come evident recently. In epilepsy pathogenesis ROM may contribute to the increase in neural excitability, and blo¬od-brain barrier permeability. Because of the less efficent effect of glutathione peroxidase and catalase in the brain tissue, the only and primary intracellular antioxidant defense system is formed by superoxide dismutase(SOD). Being a part of a series of studies on epilepsy, the alterations in the red cell SOD activity and plasma copper and zinc and the red cell copper and zinc concentrations and, plasma and the red cell magnesium concentrations were measured in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. When compared with the control group; increased SOD activity, decreased plasma zinc concentration, incre¬ased red cell zinc concentration, decreased red cell magnesium concentration were found in epileptic patients.