Sodium valproate in Huntington's disease.

The authors assessed the effect of sodium valproate, which is thought to elevate brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, in the treatment of Huntington's disease by an objective ultrasound method in three patients with Huntington's disease. Despite plasma levels ranging from 47.0 to 140.8 microgram/ml (mean, 104.7), sodium valproate had no beneficial effect on involuntary movements. The authors stress the importance of activation to achieve a standard level of arousal in the assessment of involuntary movements.