Vomiting attack with ACTH and ADH discharge improves startle epilepsy.

A 15-year-old boy with sequelae of perinatal asphyxia experienced intractable startle-induced epileptic seizures, which were transiently suppressed with episodic vomiting. His vomiting was associated with adrenocorticotropin and antidiuretic hormone discharge, and the alteration of urinary catecholamine excretion, which might modulate epileptic seizures. Because startle-induced epileptic seizures are resistant to conventional antiepileptic therapy, this case is informative for the treatment of startle epilepsy.