Neuropediatrics 2006; 37 - THP75
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-945898

THE EFFECT OF ACTH IN THE TREATMENT OF INFANTILE SPASM

J Qin 1, X Wu 1, GL Chen 1, YH Zhang 1
  • 1Dept. of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China

Objectives: To summarize the effect of ACTH in the treatment of infantile spasm (IS) and its influenced factors.

Methods: Seventy-two children suffering from IS were treated with ACTH, the dosage ranging from 25IU to 40IU daily for 4 weeks, were observed with retrospective studies.

Results: In 72 cases, at the end of ACTH therapy, there were 55 cases (76.4%) with a decrease of seizure frequency by=50% and 42 cases (58.3%)with complete cessation. Severe adverse effect did not find during the using of ACTH. The initial effects of ACTH on seizure in patients with cryptogenic IS were better than in those with symptomatic IS (P<0.05). The initial effects of patients with shorter treatment lag (=2 months) were better than those with longer treatment lag (>2 months) (P<0.05), the age of onset of spasm and the age of initiation treated with ACTH were not correlated with curative effect (P>0.05) effects.

Conclusion: Low-dose ACTH is effective in seizure control in most IS patients. The initial effect is correlated with the treatment lag and etiologies, with a shorter treatment lag and cryptogenic etiology had a better initial effects on seizures.