Successful treatment of progressive myoclonus epilepsy with TRH.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is sometimes used for the treatment of neurologic disorders such as intractable epilepsy and spinocerebellar degeneration. A 14-year-old girl with progressive myoclonus epilepsy was treated with intravenous TRH for 12 months. Clinical symptoms, such as cortical myoclonus and cerebellar signs, were improved, and P25-N33 amplitudes of somatosensory-evoked potentials decreased after TRH therapy. P100 amplitudes on flash visual-evoked potentials and photosensitivity on electroencephalograms also decreased but only temporarily. Changes in neurophysiologic findings after TRH therapy indicate that TRH inhibits hyperexcitability in the sensorimotor cortex and the visual cortex. Therefore, intravenous TRH therapy is recommended as an alternative therapy in the treatment of progressive myoclonus epilepsy.
Tanaka
C
C
Division of Child Neurology, Institute of Neurological Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.
Maegaki
Y
Y
Koeda
T
T
Ohta
S
S
Takeshita
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone