West syndrome (WS) is a specific type of epilepsy (or seizure disorder) that has three features: infantile spasms (type of seizure), loss of milestones, and a specific pattern on electroencephalogram (EEG or brain wave test) called hypsarhythmia. The purpose of this study is to detect pre-hypsarhythmia in infants at high-risk for WS and determine whether treatment with ACTH will prevent WS.
Hypothesis: Preemptive ACTH will halt the evolution of hypsarhythmia and improve the EEG patterns in infants with pre-hypsarhythmic EEG. Aim. To determine whether a low dose ACTH improves EEG, we will repeat EEG one month after a 2 week course of daily ACTH.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
28
ACTH 16 units intramuscular injection once daily for 2 weeks
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Evidence for improvement in the EEG one month following initiation of the 2 week course of low-dose ACTH.
If pre-hypsarhythmia (Type 3) is detected, ACTH treatment is given for 2 weeks and an EEG is performed one month later. Primary outcome is improvement in EEG (as defined by assigned type).
Time frame: 1 month
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.