ACTH treatment in intractable seizures of childhood

• Published in: Brain & development (Tokyo. 1979) Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 102 - 106
• Main Authors: Charuvanij, Araya, Ouvrier, Robert A, Procopis, Peter G, Antony, Jayne H, Fagan, Elizabeth R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.1992; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: ACTH; Adolescent; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - adverse effects; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - therapeutic use; Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; childhood; Drug Resistance; Female; Humans; Infant; intractable seizures; Male; Medical sciences; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Seizures - diagnostic imaging; Seizures - drug therapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; intractable seizures; childhood; ACTH; Human; Nervous system diseases; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Epilepsy; Anticonvulsant; Child; Negative therapeutic reaction; Intramuscular administration
• ISSN: 0387-7604; 1872-7131
• DOI: 10.1016/S0387-7604(12)80095-7

Between 1980 and 1989, 21 children suffering from intractable seizures other than infantile spasms were treated with intramuscular ACTH at the Children's Hospital Camperdown. Five patients had two courses of ACTH therapy, 24% of patients had a good response (group A), 56% responded transiently (group B) and 20% did not respond (group C). Group A had normal development and no neurological deficits prior to seizures. A favourable response was not observed in patients with partial seizures, 90%) of the patients who responded had a recurrence of seizures. Mean time to recurrence was 9.0 ± 7.3 months in group A and 1.6 ± 2.0 months in group B. Hypokalemia, hypertension and infection were found in 42.9%, 33.3% and 19.1% respectively. ACTH also had effects on concurrent anti-epileptic drug levels.