Mean daily plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin, leu-enkephalin, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEAS in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures evolving to generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
BACKGROUND
A multitude of mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of epilepsy.


OBJECTIVE
To assess mean daily plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, DHEAS, leu-enkephalin, and beta-endorphin in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures evolving to tonic-clonic in relation to frequency of seizure occurrence (groups with seizure occurrences - several per week and several per year) and duration of the disease (groups less than and more than 10 years). We decided to analyse mean daily values of beta-endorphin and leu-enkephalin because of significant differences in concentrations of these substances in blood during the day.


METHODS
The study was performed on 17 patients (14 males + 3 females; mean age 31.8 yrs) treated with carbamazepine (300-1800 mg/day). The control group consisted of six age-matched healthy volunteers. Blood was collected at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 2 a.m. Intergroup analysis was performed with the use of ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test.


RESULTS
Mean daily concentrations of ACTH and cortisol in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in comparison with those of the healthy volunteers, independently of the frequency of seizures and duration of the disease. Mean daily concentrations of beta-endorphin in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in the groups of patients with more severe clinical course of disease (with more frequently occurring epilepsy seizures and longer duration of the disease) in comparison with healthy subjects. Mean daily concentrations of leu-enkephalin in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in the group of patients with short duration of the disease in comparison with the group with long duration of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
1. Pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity is observed in patients with clinically active epilepsy, independently of the frequency of seizures and duration of the disease. 2. Changes in endogenous opioid system activity are related to the clinical activity of epilepsy - beta-endorphin concentrations are connected with frequency of seizures and duration of the disease and leu-enkephalin concentrations with duration of the disease. 3. Endogenous opioid peptides might take part in the neurochemical mechanism of human epilepsy. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 103-110).
Marek
Bogdan
B
Department of Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Katowice, Poland. patofizjozab@sum.edu.pl
Kajdaniuk
Dariusz
D
Kos-Kudła
Beata
B
Kapustecki
Janusz
J
Swietochowska
Elzbieta
E
Ostrowska
Zofia
Z
Siemińska
Lucyna
L
Nowak
Mariusz
M
Głogowska-Szelag
Joanna
J
Borgiel-Marek
Halina
H
Ciesielska-Kopacz
Nelly
N
Foltyn
Wanda
W
Pierzchała
Krystyna
K
Krysiak
Robert
R
Bienek
Radosław
R
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000097:blood*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D002220:Carbamazepine; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone