title: Steroids in intractable childhood epilepsy: clinical experience and review of the literature.
abstract: Steroids and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) have been used for the treatment of infantile spasms for several years. However, the use of steroids in the treatment of epilepsy beyond infantile spasms has been limited to only a few studies. We report the experience with steroids in 32 children with intractable epilepsy, not including West syndrome. In 47% there was a decrease in seizure frequency, 25% became seizure free, 11% had a seizure reduction of >50% and 11% had a seizure reduction of <50%. Our study confirms the conclusions of few previous reports of effective adjunctive steroid treatment for children with intractable epilepsy. The possible side effects, however, especially during prolonged therapy remain an important concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. helene.verhelst@ugent.be
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verhelst
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buyse
authors.forename: Berten
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ceulemans
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
authors.forename: Linda De
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Meirleir
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasaerts
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagae
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meurs
authors.forename: Rudy Van
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Coster
authors.forename: Kristl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vonck
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D013256:Steroids; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone