PROSTAGLANDINS AND CONVULSIONS

Abstract

Dr. Lyneham and others reported a possible association between prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) injected intraamniotically for mid-trimester abortion and atypical electroencephalogram patterns and epileptic convulsions; their findings raise concern about the clinical uses of prostaglandins. This author claims that in normal subjects with doses used therapeutically, little evidence shows a causal relationship between prostaglandins and convulsions. The incidence of epilepsy was not significantly different from that reported by others in the general population. If these effects are due to absorption into the systemic circulation it would be expected that the findings would be dose-dependent. This author has not observed convulsions even when 2 or 3 times the dose reported to be responsible (PGF2 alpha 30 mg) was given. Convulsions have failed to result from intravenous PGF2 alpha even when infused at doses high enough to provoke significant side-effects, including pyrexia, the latter presumably resulting from a central cerebral effect. Investigations should also include PGE2 and the use of prostaglandins for induction of labor, especially in eclamptic patients who may develop convulsions as a consequence of their disease. Prostaglandins are remarkably free from serious toxicity.