title: Reduced ACTH, while normal beta-endorphin CSF levels in early epileptic encephalopathies.
abstract: Since ACTH and the opioids display opposite effects on experimentally-induced seizures, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of ACTH and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) were measured in 6 children (4-8 months) affected by infantile spasms with hypsarhythmia, an idiopathic early onset encephalopathy, and in 8 age-matched controls. beta-EP levels in the patients (76.3 +/- 14.7 fmol/ml, M +/- SD) did not differ from those in controls (109.8 +/- 42.7) while babies with epileptic encephalopathy showed reduced ACTH levels in the CSF (3.8 +/- 1.5) as compared to controls (9.0 +/- 3.7, p less than 0.01). This resulted in an increased beta-EP/ACTH ratio. Another patient previously treated with ACTH showed a normal CSF level of ACTH (9.0) with a normal beta-EP/ACTH ratio while in clinical and EEG remission. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that some infantile seizures unrelated to brain injuries could originate from an ACTH deficiency at central level and/or an imbalance of neuropeptidergic pathways.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchinetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nalin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone