Circulating levels of anticonvulsant metabolites of progesterone in women with partial epilepsy in the intercritical phase

The Salpha-hydroxy metabolites of progesterone (P), 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone, A-PREG) and 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one (pregnanolone, PREG), have been found to be among the most potent ligands of gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) eceptors; in experimental animals, they have been found to have anxiolytic, hypnotic and anticonvulsant effects 'ilar to those of the benzodiazepines and barbiturates that interact with GABA-A receptors. The present study was iertaken to determine plasma A-PREG and PREG concentrations in the luteal phase in women with partial epilep;, , in order to determine if an impaired metabolism of P occurs in this convulsive disorder. We measured plasma P, A-PREG and PREG levels in 75 women with partial epilepsy in the intercritical phase, and in 15 age-matched healthy women, during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle (22nd24th day). The mean plasma ±S.E. A-PREG levels (three blood samples) were 0.7±0.6 ng/ml in the epileptic women and 0.5±0.2 ng/ml in controls, with no significant difference beteen the two groups (p = NS); the PREG levels were also similar (J.4±J ng/ml and I ±1.1 ng/ml, respectively: p = NS). A significant correlation was found between P levels and both A-PREG and PREG levels (r=0.72, p<0.001 and r = 0.79, p<0.00l, respectively). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone, Cortisol, dihydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone or estradiol levels.