Effects of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Treatment on Heart Muscle in Patients with Infantile Spasm

: Background and aim Infantile spasm (IS) is a common epileptic syndrome of childhood epilepsies. The most effective treatment for IS is adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). We hypothesized that ACTH treatment might change myocardial systolic and diastolic performance and cause cardiovascular side effects. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ACTH treatment on the heart muscle in IS patients. Materials and methods Eighteen newly diagnosed patients with IS participated in the study. ACTH (Synacthen® Depot) administered for two months in a total of 18 doses. A twelve-channel-surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography performed in all patients before ACTH treatment, the second month after ACTH treatment (end of treatment), and two months later (after treatment). The systolic and diastolic myocardial functions were assessed by conventional and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Results The mean age of the patients was 8.1 months, and the patient group consisted of five female and 13 male subjects. None of the patients had clinically significant arrhythmia during treatment. After treatment, the mean heart rates of the patients significantly decreased (p=0.02), the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of patients did not change. We observed mild septal hypertrophy and an increase in the left ventricle mass index with ACTH treatment. Septal hypertrophy did not show progression until the fourth month after treatment. After ACTH treatment, patients had higher left ventricular myocardial performance index and lower E' and A' values at the mitral lateral annuli, however, these values didn't statistically significant from pretreatment values. Conclusion The low dose and short duration ACTH treatment in IS patients may cause subclinical myocardial hypertrophy. ACTH treatment has no significant side effects on cardiac functions.