[Therapeutic trial with a fragment of ACTH (ACTH 4-10) in early childhood epilepsy (author's transl)]

Abstract

Epilepsy in early childhood has been treated successfully with ACTH. However, side effects were significant due to the stimulation of the adrenal cortex by high doses of ACTH over a long time. It has been suggested, that ACTH does not influence the seizures via the adrenal cortex. Therefore we administered an ACTH fragment (ACTH 4-10) which does not influence the adrenal cortex. Seven children aged between 8 months and 13 1/2 years were treated at least for 3 weeks with doses from 15 mg twice daily to 12 x 30 mg/day. Adrenal stimulation did not occur as proven by normal circadian plasma cortisol levels. However, the EEG regularly repeated, did not show improvements. The frequency of seizure was not reduced. It is concluded that this ACTH fragment (ACTH 4-10) does neither influence the adrenal cortex nor the EEG nor the frequency of seizures in early childhood epilepsy.