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Vigabatrin‐associated retinal damage – potential biochemical mechanisms
Author(s) -
Heim M. K.,
Gidal B. E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2012.01684.x
Subject(s) - vigabatrin , excitotoxicity , glutamate receptor , neuroscience , taurine , gaba transaminase , retinal degeneration , toxicity , retinal , phototoxicity , pharmacology , retina , epilepsy , medicine , anticonvulsant , biology , amino acid , biochemistry , ophthalmology , receptor , glutamate decarboxylase , in vitro , enzyme
Vigabatrin ( VGB ), an irreversible inhibitor of gamma‐aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) transaminase, is approved as adjunct treatment of refractory partial seizures as well as infantile spasms. Although VGB has been proven to be effective, its use is limited by the risk of retinopathy and associated peripheral visual field defects. This review describes and analyzes current literature related to potential pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying VGB ‐mediated cellular toxicity. Animal data suggest that GABA mediates neural excitotoxicity. The amino acid taurine is concentrated in retinal cells, and deficiency of this amino acid may be involved in VGB ‐mediated retinal degeneration and possible phototoxicity.