Elevated serum gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in children with Reye's syndrome.

Elevated serum levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a potent inhibitory neurotransmitter, have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. In this study, serum GABA levels were measured in five children with severe Reye's syndrome, 10 children with acute viral hepatitis, and seven healthy volunteers. Serum GABA levels were highest in the five Reye's syndrome patients. The mean serum GABA level for the Reye's syndrome group (3.0 +/- 1.3 microM, mean +/- SEM) was significantly elevated as compared to the mean of the viral hepatitis group (0.72 +/- 0.07 microM, p less than 0.05) and the healthy volunteers (0.38 +/- 0.04 microM, p less than 0.05). These results provide preliminary evidence to suggest that elevated serum GABA levels may in part be responsible for the encephalopathic state observed in children with Reye's syndrome.