Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-2-23
pubmed:abstractText
Previous studies have indicated increased immunoreactivity of the endogenous opioid peptide beta-endorphin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infants under 2 years of age with apnea. To assess the role of endogenous opioids in the pathogenesis of apnea in children, the effect of oral treatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone was studied in apneic infants, as well as in older apneic children, with demonstrated increases in CSF immunoreactive beta-endorphin (i-BE). In the 8 apneic infants with elevated i-BE in lumbar CSF (range, 55-155 pg/ml; normal, 17-52 pg/ml), no further apnea occurred during naltrexone therapy (1 mg/kg/day, by mouth). Five children (2-8 years old) with apnea of unknown cause had elevated CSF i-BE (range, 74-276 pg/ml) compared to 6 age-matched nonapneic children (range, 15-48 pg/ml). No apneic events occurred during naltrexone therapy, except in 1 child during stressful events, but apnea recurred in some patients after attempts to discontinue naltrexone treatment. Adverse effects of naltrexone included complaints of headaches in 2 children and symptoms of a narcotic withdrawal syndrome during the first 3 days of treatment in 1 child. Three children with Leigh's syndrome had elevated CSF i-BE (range, 104-291 pg/ml) and their apnea also responded to naltrexone. We conclude that elevated endogenous opioids contribute to the pathogenesis of apnea in children and may even result in physical dependence.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0364-5134
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
27
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
75-80
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Naltrexone therapy of apnea in children with elevated cerebrospinal fluid beta-endorphin.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Child Neurology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0211.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.