January - March 2014, Volume 10, Issue 1

Craiu D

Implications of Sex Hormones in the Treatment of Women with Epilepsy: Catamenial Epilepsy

Acta Endo (Buc) 2014, 10 (1): 102-117
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2014.102

The impact of sex hormones on body development is well known and extensively studied. It is important for physicians dealing with women with epilepsy (WWE) to understand the relationship between hormones – brain excitability – antiepileptic medication in the attempt of finding the most appropriate care for this population. This article presents current knowledge concerning 1. Influence of hormones on neuronal excitability and epilepsy (with general proconvulsant effect of estrogens and anticonvulsant of progesterone); 2. Role of sex hormones on brain development during puberty; 3. The influence of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on hormonal constellation, fertility and reproductive endocrine disorders including polycystic ovary syndrome; 4. Catamenial epilepsy (endocrinologists and neurologists should carefully investigate menstrual and epilepsy diaries, antiepileptic treatment and contraceptive method and choose treatment with either progesterone – for C1 menstrual type, or acetazolamide, benzodiazepines, antiepileptic medication for C2 and C3 types); 5. Contraception in WWE. Theoretical and practical issues are being discussed and organised into clinical practice recommendations.

Keywords: sex hormones, epilepsy, catamenial, contraception, brain development, women, antiepileptic drugs.

Correspondence: Dana Craiu MD, “Alexandru Obregia” Hospital, Pediatric Neurology, Sos. Berceni 10-12, Sector 4, Bucharest, 7000, Romania, E-mail: dcraiu@yahoo.com