title: Major adverse events associated with treatment of infantile spasms.
abstract: Few studies have focused on tolerability and adverse events associated with natural adrenocorticotropic hormone injections for treatment of infantile spasms. Using a retrospective chart review of 130 patients, the authors compare major adverse events, weight and blood pressure changes, and unplanned medication changes associated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) injections versus other antiepileptic drugs. Children treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone injections experienced significant short-term weight gain and blood pressure elevations, which were readily reversible with weaning off the drug. Twenty-three percent of patients treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone (14 of 60) and 17% of patients treated with other antiepileptic drugs (11 of 65) experienced a major adverse event during treatment. Few patients overall required a change in medication due to intolerable side effects. Despite early changes in weight and blood pressure, short courses of high-dose natural adrenocorticotropic hormone are generally well tolerated with no increased major adverse events when compared to antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of infantile spasms.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Division, Women's and Children's Hospital, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. apartiki@usc.edu
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Partikian
authors.forename: Wendy G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006728:Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006728:Hormones; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone