Letter to the editor Fatal hepatotoxicity in a child treated with vigabatrin

Vigabatrin [gamma vinyl-GABA] (VGB) has been introduced as an add-on therapy for drug-resistent epilepsy in 1979. In children, such untoward effects of VGB as restlessness, drowsiness, sleepiness, vertigo or gain in weight are mild and dose-dependent. Psychic reactions, alterations of mood, aggressiveness or depression occur more seldom and disappear after lowering of the VGB dose or spontaneously (1). There are two reports on encephalopathy with stupor, confusion, slowing of the EEG, and cardiovascular disturbances with VGB (2, 3).