[Serum beta-glucuronidase activity in patients with epilepsy].

Little information is available on the effect produced by antiepileptic drugs on the serum beta-glucuronidase activity. According to recent findings, beta-glucuronidase serum levels are increased in patients with epilepsy just before the beginning of seizures and remain increased during several weeks; this it is suggested that determination of this enzyme could be important in the provision and the treatment of seizures. The purpose of the present study attempts to understand these changes. Our study was carried out on 49 adult healthy subjects and 48 adult epileptic patients receiving anticonvulsant therapies. Serum beta-glucuronidase activity was determined by a simplified procedure employing phenolphtalein glucuronic acid as substrate. The mean +/- SEM of serum beta-glucuronidase activity in treated patients (40.93 +/- 5.01 MSU/ml) was significantly higher than those of the healthy subjects (25.04 +/- 3.40 MSU/ml). In conclusion, the relationship between changes in serum enzyme activity, seizures and anticonvulsant therapies suggests that the determination of serum beta-glucuronidase activity presents a weak interest in predicting or treating seizures.