Seizure frequency and cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels in women with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic drug treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Hormonal changes occur in epilepsy because of seizures themselves and of antiepileptic drug (AED) effects on steroid production, binding, and metabolism. Conversely, steroids may influence neuron activity and excitability by acting as neuroactive steroids. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to evaluating cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels in female epilepsy patients with different disease severity, as assessed by a seizure frequency score (SFS).


METHODS
Morning serum levels of cortisol and DHEAS were assayed in 113 consecutive women, aged 16 to 47 years, with varied epilepsy syndromes, receiving mono- or polytherapy with enzyme-inducing and/or noninducing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Hormonal data were correlated with clinical parameters (age, body mass index, epilepsy syndrome, disease onset and duration, SFS, AED therapy, and AED serum levels) and compared with those of 30 age-matched healthy women.


RESULTS
In epilepsy patients, cortisol levels and cortisol-to-DHEAS ratios (C/Dr) were significantly higher, whereas DHEAS levels were significantly lower than those in controls. Patients with more frequent seizures showed higher cortisol and C/Dr values and lower DHEAS levels than did those with rarer or absent seizures during the previous 6 months. SFS mainly explained the increase of cortisol levels and C/Dr in patients with more active disease. Changes in DHEAS levels correlated with SFS and epilepsy syndrome, as well as with AED treatments and ages.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with more frequent seizures had alterations of their adrenal steroids characterized by an increase of cortisol and a decrease of DHEAS levels. Such hormonal changes might be relevant in seizure control and in patient health.
Galimberti
Carlo Andrea
CA
Epilepsy Centre, IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
Magri
Flavia
F
Copello
Francesco
F
Arbasino
Carla
C
Cravello
Luca
L
Casu
Massimo
M
Patrone
Vittoriana
V
Murialdo
Giovanni
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000502:physiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone