title: Influence of ACTH therapy on overnight sleep polygrams in infantile spasms.
abstract: Overnight sleep polygrams were recorded before and during therapy in nine patients with infantile spasms. Results showed that ACTH therapy increased the waking time and decreased rapid eye movement sleep. Thus it caused sleep disturbance in patients with infantile spasms. During ACTH therapy the number of rapid eye movements/min and the pulse rate decreased significantly. Body movements/min also decreased, but not significantly. These results suggest that ACTH therapy may inhibit functions of the central nervous system. The respiratory rate increased during ACTH and clonazepam therapy, probably in association with the decrease or the absence of seizures. These findings indicate the necessity for further studies on whether ACTH therapy is really of value in patients with infantile spasms, and show that if ACTH is given, the period of therapy should be as short as possible.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone