영아연축의 임상양상 및 ACTH 치료효과에 관한 고찰

A comparative study for the effect of ACTH therapy in patients with infantile spasms

The anticonvulsant effect of ACTH in the treatment of infantile spasms has been well documented. But the principal mechanism of ACTH, duration of therapy and dosage are still controversial. The authors made a comparative study with the type of disease, time of treatment and therapeutic dosage for the effectiveness of ACTH therapy. The results were as follows: 1. Six cases(23%) were in cryptogenic group and nineteen cases(77%) were in symptomatic group. There was no significant statistical difference between two groups in treatment outcome(p>0.25). 2. Early treatment group with treatment within 4 weeks after onset included 14 patients(54%), while late treatment group with treatment after 4 weeks of onset included 12(46%). There was no significant statistical difference in effectiveness of ACTH therapy between them(p>0.25). 3. High dose group(above 100U/M/day) included 9 patients(35%), while low dose group(below 100U/M/day) included 17 patients(65%). In high dose group, ACTH therapy was more effective than low dose group(p<0.05).