Developmental change of dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in cerebrospinal fluid of epileptic and non-epileptic children.

The developmental change of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of epileptic children was studied. Non-epileptic children showed lower DBH activity in CSF than adult, and its activity increased with age. In contrast, epileptic children showed no increase in DBH activity with age. DBH in CSF may be a good index of noradrenergic function in child brain. The results on developmental change in DBH in CSF suggest that refractory epilepsy with long term medication has decreased activity in central noradrenergic neurons.