Post-ictal circulating levels of allopregnanolone in children with partial or generalized seizures.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Allopregnanolone (3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one) is a neurosteroid with a potent modulating activity on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(a) receptor complex. It plays a key role in the epileptogenesis of partial seizures. Serum allopregnanolone concentrations significantly increase in the postcritical phase. In the present study we investigated the post-ictal serum allopregnanolone levels in children with partial seizures and generalized seizures, respectively.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Three groups of subjects were included in the study. Group 1 consisted of 18 children affected by complex partial seizures. Group 2 consisted of 11 children presenting with generalized epilepsy. Group 3 consisted of 20 healthy age-matched subjects. Serum allopregnanolone levels were assayed in the inter-ictal phase and within 30 min after an epileptic event.

RESULTS:

The data we obtained suggest that circulating allopregnanolone level significantly increases in the post-ictal phase. However, we found no significant differences in the post-ictal serum allopregnanolone concentrations between patients with partial seizures and those with generalized seizures.

CONCLUSIONS:

Further studies are needed to establish if allopregnanolone is a reliable circulating marker of epileptic seizures. However, our observations seem to indicate that post-ictal circulating allopregnanolone level is not useful in differentiating focal and generalized epilepsy events.

• Authors: Salvatore Grosso, Stefano Luisi, Rosario Berardi, Rosa Mostardini, Duccio Maria Cordelli, Guido Morgese, Felice Petraglia, Paolo Balestri
• Journal: Epilepsy research (Epilepsy Res) Vol. 63 Issue 2-3 Pg. 97-102 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0920-1211 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15725389 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anesthetics
• Pregnanolone

Topics

• Anesthetics (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Chromatography (methods)
• Electroencephalography
• Epilepsies, Partial (blood, physiopathology)
• Epilepsy, Generalized (blood, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Pregnanolone (blood)
• Statistics, Nonparametric