Serial electroencephalograms and somatosensory evoked potentials in a patient with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency.

Serial electroencephalograms (EEGs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were carried out in a 36-year-old man with isolated ACTH deficiency. Before treatment with glucocorticoids, the EEGs displayed bilateral diffuse 5-6 Hz theta waves, and SEPs demonstrated a decreased amplitude. Following treatment with glucocorticoids, the EEGs showed gradual improvement; a diffuse alpha pattern was demonstrated on the 11th day after treatment and an occipital dominant alpha pattern was found on the 83rd day after treatment. After treatment, SEPs also showed improvement. The amplitude of N20 increased and N32 became clearly recognizable. The influence of glucocorticoids on EEGs and SEPs was discussed in the context of these observations.(Internal Medicine 35: 227-230, 1996)