The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
15 children with variable intractable seizure disorders who were on multiple anti-convulsant medications were treated with pulse monthly doses of parentral dexamethsone varying from 4 – 7 months. EEG and clinical response were assessed periodically as well at the end of the study. 53% of the patients showed clinical response and EEG response. Hypertension was noted in 6, hypokalemia in 3 and hyperglycaemia in 1 patient. The ultimate compliance from the parents for this treatment was seen among 12 patients because of its proven efficacy and parents of seven patients insisted to continue the treatment for long duration.
Epilepsy is a common problem in children which is treatable. However some patients are difficult to treat which was previously called intractable epilepsy and it varies from 6- 40% in many studies.
Corticosteroids, either as adrenocortciotrophic hormone (ACTH) or synthetic preparations of steroids have been used widely for the treatment of intractable epileptic disorders of childhood since long time. Livingston and Sorel reported the benefits of ACTH in West syndrome, an infantile form of epileptic encephalopathy.
15 patients were enrolled (9males and 6 females) on a retrospective basis and charts were analyzed between 2012 and 2015; all these patients had intractable epilepsies and on several medications. The patients included in this study had the diagnosis, as classified according to International criteria of diagnosis of epilepsies as follows: West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, myoclonic atonic epilepsy of infancy and electrical status epilepticus of slow wave sleep. Informal written consent was obtained from parents prior to treatment regarding mode of administration of steroids, possible side effects and they were advised to report, if any. Baseline electroencephalogram were done prior to starting treatment and at the end of the study period of seven months. All of them were admitted to the ward and base line investigations to rule outacute or chronic infections were done. Patients received 20 mg/m2 of intravenous dexamethasone daily early morning for 3 days and subsequently on monthly basis for at least seven cycles. 12 patients adhered to the strict regime of 7 cycles of treatment and the rest could not complete. The defaulters were mostly non-responders to initial treatment. Routine biochemical investigations namely electrolytes and random blood sugar were done and no antibiotic prophylaxis was given. Blood pressure was monitored during the admissions and steroid administration was withheld, if high. No oral steroids were prescribed to the patients at time of discharge. Clinical response in the form of seizure frequency, response were graded into complete seizure freedom (100%) partial response (more than 50% but less than 100%) and poor response with no change in seizure frequency (0-50%). Similarly EEG response was also graded as good (100%) moderate (50%) and poor (0%).
Treatment response was assessed as per the classification and noted that no patient had total response to treatment (100%) but moderate response was noted in 8 out of 15 patients (53%) and poor response in the rest of 7 (0%). The non responders were 4 patients of Dravet syndrome, 2 with Lennox-Gestaut and one with infantile spasm (West syndrome). All other patients, (3) with electrical status epilepticus in slow wave sleep and myoclonic atonic epilepsy of infancy (2) showed moderate response (50% reduction in seizure frequency) and 2 patients of West syndrome and I with LGS showed similar response as above. The time of onset of response was noted in 1 patient with West syndrome soon after the first pulse therapy period with 50% reduction in seizure frequency by the time of discharge but the rest showed the response in varying periods within the completion of the study period. EEG response was concurrent to that of clinical response in terms of sharp wave paroxysmal frequency and evidence was much appreciated in patients with West syndrome and electrical status epilepticus of slow wave sleep. The commonest adverse event noted was hypertension in 6 patients, low potassium in 3 and 1 patient had high blood sugar. All these side effects were transient, not needing intervention and did not persist after the completion of cycles of treatment. 12 patients were compliant to this pulse therapy treatment schedule with proven efficacy and parents of seven patients insisted to continue the treatment for longer duration.
Intractable childhood epileptic syndrome forms a spectrum of therapy resistant epilepsies where conventional and new ‘ant- epileptic’ medications do not prove much benefit. Corticosteroids, used in various forms, appear to influence the seizure outcome both in short-term as well as long-term, in a few patients to a greater extent in various studies but the exact mechanism of their influence is still unknown.
Dysfunction of brain adrenal axis is said to play an important role in seizures evolution and propagation
Our study proved that pulsatile steroid therapy was beneficial and probably a treatment option in patients with West syndrome, Lennox Gastaut syndrome, myoclonic atonic epilepsy of infancy and electric status epilepticus
In this pilot study, pulsatile steroid therapy, in the form of dexamethasone injections, is an effective therapeutic option in patients with childhood onset epileptic encephalopathy. Earlier administration of this mode of treatment could not only alleviate the problem of seizure severity and frequency but also the usage of multiple anti epileptic medications and their side effects. It is well known that the major drawbacks of steroid use are seizure recurrence after discontinuation and the significant side effects from long-term use. Dravert syndrome, a form of severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy may not respond to this treatment.