title: Serum steroids and success of corticotropin therapy in infantile spasms.
abstract: 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-progesterone concentration ratio. This suggests that the therapeutic effect of corticotropin may be mediated by steroid factors other than cortisol. Inhibition of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase system in zona reticularis might be beneficial during the corticotropin therapy.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone