ADRENAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN WITH CHRONIC EPILEPSY

Abstract

There are no data in the literature on the excretion patterns of urinary steroids in patients with grand mal epilepsy. There are, however, limited reports on the effect of electric convulsive therapy on the excretion patterns in patients with mental disorders. Hemphill¹ examined the effect of electric convulsive therapy on the rates of 17-ketosteroid excretion in 18 patients and reported that 9 showed a significant increase but that the remainder showed no change in their rate of excretion. Ashby² noted no change in 17-ketosteroid excretion in similar studies; he did find that "the usual effect of convulsive therapy is to cause a brisk outpouring of adrenal corticosteroids during the first few days of treatment." He further stated that "after this outpouring the activity returns to its previous level even though treatment continues." There are some reports on eosinophil levels made before and after grand mal seizures.³ From