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Serum Steroids and Success of Corticotropin Therapy in Infantile Spasms
Author(s) -
RIIKONEN R.,
PERHEENTUPA J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1986.tb10257.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnenolone , endocrinology , androstenedione , dehydroepiandrosterone , hydrocortisone , urinary system , therapeutic effect , urine , steroid , hormone , androgen
. Serum levels of 8 steroids and urinary Cortisol excretion were determined in 10 infants before and during corticotropin therapy for infantile spasms. High serum dehydroepiandrosterone‐androstenedione concentration ratio distinguished the 6 infants with good therapeutic response from the 4 with poor response ( p =0.001). No such distinction was obtained directly by any of the serum steroid levels, 24‐hour urinary Cortisol, or serum pregnenolone‐proges‐terone concentration ratio. This suggests that the therapeutic effect of corticotropin may be mediated by steroid factors other than Cortisol. Inhibition of the 3 β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase system in zona reticularis might be beneficial during the corticotropin therapy.