Hormonal therapies: progesterone.
Seizures do not occur randomly in the majority of people with epilepsy. They tend to cluster. Seizure clusters, in turn, commonly occur with a temporal rhythmicity that shows a readily identifiable and predictable periodicity. When the periodicity of seizure exacerbation in women conforms to that of the menstrual cycle, it is commonly known as catamenial epilepsy. This may be attributable to 1) the neuroactive properties of steroid hormones and 2) the cyclic variation in their serum levels. If hormones play a role in seizure occurrence, hormones may also have a role in treatment. Progesterone has potent GABAergic metabolites that may provide safe and effective seizure control in women who have catamenial epilepsy.
Herzog
Andrew G
AG
Harvard Neuroendocrine Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481, USA. aherzog@bidmc.harvard.edu