Incidence of Hypertension Among Children Treated With Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) or Prednisolone for Infantile Spasms. 2020

Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.

Children with infantile spasms are often treated with hormonal therapies including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and prednisolone. These have numerous systemic side effects including hypertension and, rarely, fatal cardiomyopathy; however, the incidence of these side effects has not been well described. This study aims to quantify the incidence and short-term sequelae of hypertension in this population. A retrospective chart review was performed at a single institution. Children 2 months to 2 years old with newly diagnosed infantile spasms treated from 2013 to 2017 were included. Variables collected included age, sex, etiology and treatment of infantile spasms, documented or missed diagnosis of hypertension, treatment of hypertension, echocardiogram results, referrals for hypertension, and persistence of hypertension 2 to 4 months after treatment. Analyses included descriptive statistics with percentiles, means, and medians. Differences between groups were assessed using Fisher exact tests. Hypertension occurred in 34/77 children (44%) during treatment with ACTH and 4/11 children (36%) during treatment with prednisolone. No child developed hypertension during treatment with nonhormonal therapies. The incidence of hypertension between ACTH and prednisolone groups was not significantly different (P = .75). The incidence of hypertension was significantly higher in the ACTH and prednisolone groups compared to the nonhormonal group (P < .001 for each). Sixteen children received echocardiograms, with no cases of cardiomyopathy. Two children had persistent hypertension at 2 months after discontinuation of hormonal therapy. Hypertension is a very common side effect of hormonal therapy for infantile spasms; however, few developed long-term hypertension and none developed cardiomyopathy. Further study is needed to determine the role of antihypertensive treatment for hormone-related hypertension.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008297 Male Males
D011239 Prednisolone A glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated, except adrenal deficiency states. Di-Adreson-F,Predate,Predonine,Di Adreson F,DiAdresonF
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003120 Colorado State bounded on the north by Wyoming and Nebraska, on the east by Kansas and Nebraska, on the south by New Mexico and Oklahoma, and on the west by Utah.
D005260 Female Females
D005938 Glucocorticoids A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system. Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D006728 Hormones Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various ENDOCRINE GLANDS and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects. Hormone,Hormone Receptor Agonists,Agonists, Hormone Receptor,Receptor Agonists, Hormone
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
August 2010, Journal of child neurology,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
April 2009, Journal of child neurology,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
January 2014, Epilepsia,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
April 2015, Journal of child neurology,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
March 2022, The American journal of case reports,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
May 2020, Developmental medicine and child neurology,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
December 1964, Archives of disease in childhood,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
March 1988, The Journal of pediatrics,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
July 2019, Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics,
Laurel McGarry, and Ricka Messer, and Melanie Cree-Green, and Krista Ray, and Kelly Knupp
January 1996, Brain & development,
Copied contents to your clipboard!