[Alpha-tocopherol in the complex treatment of several forms of epilepsy].

Seventeen patients with various forms of epilepsy who had shown resistance to the routine anticonvulsant and psychotropic therapy were treated with alpha-tocopherol (600 mg once daily). Prior to the tocopheral treatment all patients showed pathological changes on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and a two to ten-fold increase in the plasma levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products. A beneficial effect was observed in all patients one month after the drug administration. In 11 cases, it was accompanied by decreased blood levels of LPO products and by positive changes on the EEG. The clinical action of alpha-tocopherol was manifested first in the appearance of adequate emotional-volitional activity and then in a reduced frequency of epileptic seizures. In four patients, generalized seizures were arrested completely. In five cases, the treatment did not affect the blood content of LPO products, although the prevalence and severity of affective phenomena were reduced. Thus, the inclusion of alpha-tocopherol into the multiple modality therapy of certain forms of epilepsy raises the efficacy of its treatment.