COVID-19 in Children with West Syndrome: An Ambispective Study

Objectives To study the course of West syndrome (WS) and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in children with WS who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This ambispective study was conducted at a tertiary-care center in North India between December 2020 and August 2021 after approval from the Institute Ethics Committee. Five children with WS, positive for COVID-19 based on RT-PCR, fulflled the inclusion criteria. Results One child with COVID-19 during the frst wave was retrospectively included while four children (of the 70 children screened) were prospectively enrolled. The median age at onset of epileptic spasms was 7 mo (2 boys), and that at presentation with COVID-19 was 18.5 mo. Three had underlying acquired structural etiology. Three were in remission following standard therapy, while two had ongoing spasms at the time of COVID-19 illness. During the illness, two of those in remission continued to be in remission while one child had a relapse. The children with ongoing epileptic spasms had variable course [one had persistent spasms and other had transient cessation lasting 3 wk from day 2 of COVID-19 illness, but electroencephalography (on day 8 of COVID-19 illness) continued to show hypsarrhythmia]. Fever was the most typical symptom (and sometimes the only symptom) of COVID-19, with a duration ranging from 1–8 d. Two children had moderate COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization, while the rest had a mild illness. All the afected children had complete recovery from COVID-19. Conclusion The severity of COVID-19 illness in children with WS is often mild, while the subsequent course of WS is variable.

Síndrome de Aicardi: revisión bibliográfica

Introducción: el síndrome de Aicardi (SA; OMIM #304050) es un trastorno genético raro, cuya incidencia es de aproximadamente 1/100.000. Fue descrito en 1965 como una triada consistente en agenesia del cuerpo calloso, lagunas coriorretinianas y espasmos infantiles. Asocia discapacidad intelectual severa y epilepsia de difícil control. Aunque su espectro clínico es variable, tiene por lo general un pronóstico infausto debido a la elevada morbimortalidad asociada. Se considera un trastorno esporádico causado por variantes patogénicas en heterocigosis de un gen ligado al cromosoma X, que causa mortalidad embrionaria en varones hemicigotos. Objetivo: este trabajo pretende llevar a cabo una revisión bibliográfica acerca de la literatura científica disponible del síndrome de Aicardi. De esta manera se hará una actualización sobre esta entidad en cuanto a definiciones, prevalencia e incidencia, etiología, espectro clínico y pronóstico de los pacientes afectos. Materiales y métodos: se lleva a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica retrospectiva en las principales bases de datos científicas. Para ello, se utilizan las palabras clave "Aicardi", "agenesia del cuerpo calloso", "espasmos infantiles" y "encefalopatía epiléptica". Conclusiones: desde su descripción se ha ido ampliando el espectro de manifestaciones clínicas del síndrome. Actualmente no se conoce la existencia de un biomarcador que posibilite el diagnóstico, por lo que éste continúa siendo eminentemente clínico. Se debe tener un alto nivel de sospecha en espasmos infantiles de debut precoz en mujeres con alteraciones en neuroimagen.

Introduction: Aicardi syndrome (AS; OMIM #304050) is a rare genetic disorder, with an incidence of approximately 1/100,000. It was described in 1965 as a triad consisting of agenesis of the corpus callosum, chorioretinal lacunae, and infantile spasms. It is associated with severe intellectual disability and difficult-to-control epilepsy. Although its clinical spectrum is variable, it generally has a poor prognosis due to the associated morbidity and mortality. It is considered a sporadic disorder caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants of a gene linked to the X chromosome, which causes embryonic mortality in hemizygous males. Objective: this article performs a bibliographic review of the available scientific literature on Aicardi syndrome. In doing so, we hope to update the disorder's definitions, prevalence and incidence, etiology, clinical spectrum and prognosis of affected patients. Materials and methods: we performed a retrospective bibliographic search in the main scientific databases. For this, we searched for the keywords "Aicardi", "agenesia of the corpus callosum", "infantile spasms" and "epileptic encephalopathy". Conclusions: since it was first described, the spectrum of clinical manifestations of the syndrome has been expanding. Currently, there is no known biomarker that makes diagnosis possible, so it continues to be eminently clinical diagnosis. A high level of suspicion should be present in cases of early-onset infantile spasms in women with neuroimaging abnormalities.

Prognosis and influencing factors of infantile spasms / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Infantile spasms (IS) is one of the most prevalent epileptic encephalopathies in infants and toddlers.The primary clinical features are episodes of spastic spasms, and an electroencephalogram may exhibit hypsarrhythmia features.The majority of patients have a poor prognosis, exhibiting uncontrolled seizures, conversion to other seizure types, as well as intellectual and motor developmental impairments.With the advancement of neurosurgery, genetics, and neuroimaging, various studies have been conducted on the etiologies and pathogenesis of IS; as a result, the prognosis of IS has substantially improved.This article introduced the prognosis of IS and the contributing factors affecting the prognosis.

Progress in surgical treatment of infantile spasms / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Infantile spasms(IS) is the prevalent epilepsy syndrome in infancy, characterized by an early age of onset, distinctive seizure type, hypsarrhythmia on electroencephalography, and psychomotor retardation.Despite the fact that medication therapy is the primary treatment for IS, there are still some children with IS who are resistant to drug therapy, which is extremely detrimental to their prognosis.Therefore, surgical therapy has increasingly become one of the most prominent IS treatments.As of now, the indications, preoperative evaluation, and surgical techniques of surgery are continuously being investigated based on variables such as the disease, etiology, age, etcetera.The effect of surgery on cognitive function, physical function, linguistic capacity, and memory function is gaining increasing interest.This article described the indications, preoperative evaluation, surgical procedures (including resection, palliative surgery, and stereotactic surgery), and postoperative efficacy of surgical treatment for IS, with the goal of improving the prognosis of IS through precise surgical treatment, and providing more treatment options and a good long-term prognosis for children with drug-resistant IS.

Pharmacological treatments for children with infantile spasms / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Infantile spasms is the most prevalent epileptic encephalopathy, and its prognosis is often poor.The fundamentals of treatment include early diagnosis and intervention, as well as long-term rehabilitation management.Pharmaceutical treatment is regarded as the primary and most important treatment for infantile spasms.Most importantly, it is based upon a standardized drug selection and administration.This article outlined the clinical application and progress of pharmacological therapy for the infantile spasms.

Progress of ketogenic diet on treatment of infantile spasms / 国际儿科学杂志

Infantile spasms(IS)is an age-dependent severe epilepsy syndrome, mainly treated with hormones and anti-seizure medications.However, due to poor efficacy and even serious side effects among some pediatric patients, searching for better alternative treatment options has become a research hotspot.In recent years, as a special diet treatment, ketogenic diet(KD)has been widely studied and gradually applied to the clinical treatment of IS, which has achieved satisfactory results.This article briefly reviews the KD regimen and mechanism of action, and focuses on the research progress in efficacy, safety and short-term prognosis of KD in the treatment of IS, whose purpose is to provide effective reference for clinical application.

Progress in efficacy and safety of vigabatrin in treatment of epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex in children / 国际儿科学杂志

Tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)is an autosomal dominant skin-nerve syndrome with diverse clinical manifestations.Epilepsy is the most common neurological manifestation.Vigabatrin(VGB)is an inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)analogue.It reduces the degradation of GABA by irreversibly binding to GABA transaminase, thereby increasing the level of GABA in the central nervous system and exerting anti-epileptic effects.It is suitable for the treatment of various types of epilepsy related to TSC.In recent years, the preventive effect of VGB in TSC-related epilepsy has attracted wide attention.There is a certain degree of adverse reactions during the use of VGB, the most noteworthy of which is the visual field and central nervous system changes.This article reviews the efficacy and safety of VGB in the treatment of TSC-related epilepsy.

Vigabatrina comparado con hormona adrenocorticotrópica para el tratamiento de espasmos infantiles y Síndrome de West / Vigabatrin compared with adrenocorticotropic hormone for the treatment of infantile spasms and West Syndrome

OBJETIVO: Determinar los riesgos y beneficios del uso de vigabatrina comparada con hormona adrenocorticotrópica (ACTH) para el tratamiento de espasmos infantiles. MÉTODO: Se realizó una búsqueda en Epistemonikos. Se extrajeron datos desde las revisiones identificadas. Se realizó un metaanálisis a partir de estudios primarios y se utilizó el método GRADE para la presentación de resultados. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron nueve revisiones sistemáticas. Se observó que el uso de vigabatrina en comparación con ACTH disminuye la resolución de espasmos (RR 0,8, IC 95% 0,65 - 0,98) y podría disminuir la resolución de hipsarritmia (RR 0,71, IC 95% 0,48 - 1,05). No fue posible determinar si el uso de vigabatrina disminuye el riesgo de desarrollar efectos adversos (RR 0,75, IC 95% 0,23 - 2,45) por certeza de evidencia muy baja. CONCLUSIONES: La evidencia parece inclinarse a favor del uso de ACTH. Sin embargo debe considerarse la necesidad de nuevas investigaciones para esclarecer su seguridad.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risks and benefits of the use of vigabatrin compared to ACTH for the treatment of infantile spasms. METHOD: A search in Epistemonikos was performed. Data were extracted from the identified reviews. A meta-analysis was performed from primary studies and the GRADE method was used to present the results. RESULTS: Nine systematic reviews were identified. Vigabatrin use compared to ACTH was found to decrease resolution of spasms (RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.65 - 0.98) and might decrease resolution of hypsarrhythmia (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0 .48 - 1.05). It was not possible to determine whether the use of vigabatrin reduces the risk of developing adverse effects (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.23 - 2.45) due to very low certainty of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence seems to lean in favor of the use of ACTH. However, the need for new research should be considered to clarify its safety.

Epilepsy and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in a Cohort of West Syndrome Beyond Two Years of Age

Objective To determine epilepsy and neurodevelopmental outcomes beyond 2 y of age and their putative prognostic factors in children with West syndrome (WS). Methods This cross-sectional study was initiated after approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. A follow-up cohort of 114 children (aged?2 y) diagnosed and treated for WS at the authors' center were assessed in-person for epilepsy and neurodevelopmental outcomes using Vineland Social Maturity Scale - Malin’s adaptation for Indian children. Subsequently, age at onset, lead-time-to-treatment, etiology, and response to any of the standard therapies were analyzed as possible predictors of these outcomes. Results Of 114 children (mean age: 55±32 mo, 91 boys), structural etiology was the predominant underlying etiology (79.8%) for WS. At 2 y of age, 64% had ongoing seizures. At the last follow-up, 76% had social quotient<55, and 39% had cerebral palsy (spastic quadriparesis in 21%). An underlying structural etiology was associated with ongoing seizures [OR (95% CI) 3.5 (1.4–9); p=0.008] at 2 y of age and poor developmental outcomes [OR (95% CI): 3.3 (1.3–8.9); p=0.016]. Complete cessation of spasms with the standard therapy was signifcantly associated with better seizure control [OR (95% CI): 5.4 (2.3–13); p<0.001] and neurodevelopmental outcome [OR (95% CI): 5.2 (1.8–14.9); p<0.001]. Conclusion The majority of children with WS have a poor neurodevelopmental outcome and epilepsy control on follow-up. The underlying etiology and response to initial standard therapy for epileptic spasms have a prognostic role in predicting the neurological outcome in these patients on follow-up.

Financial Burden in Families of Children with West Syndrome

Objective To evaluate the illness-related expenditure by families of children with West syndrome (WS) during the first year of illness and to explore the potential determinants of the financial drain. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital between July 2018 and June 2020. Eighty-five children with WS who presented within one year from the onset of epileptic spasms were included. The details of the treatment costs (direct medical and nonmedical) incurred during the first year from the onset of epileptic spasms were noted from a parental interview and case record review. Unit cost was fixed for drugs and specific services. Total cost was estimated by multiplying the unit cost by the number of times a drug or service was availed. The determinants of the financial burden were also explored. Results The median monthly per-capita income of the enrolled families (n = 85) was INR 3000 (Q1, Q3, 2000, 6000). The median cost of treatment over one year was INR 27035 (Q1, Q3, 17,894, 39,591). Median direct medical and nonmedical expenses amounted to INR 18802 (Q1, Q3, 12,179, 25,580) and INR 6550 (Q1, Q3, 3500, 15,000), respectively. Seven families had catastrophic healthcare expenditure. Parental education and choice of first-line treatment were important determinants driving healthcare expenses. The age at onset of epileptic spasms, etiology, treatment lag, the initial response to treatment, and relapse following initial response did not significantly influence the illness-related expenditure by the families. Conclusion WS imposes a substantial financial burden on the families and indirectly on the healthcare system.

Genotype and phynotype of DNM1 gene variants related developmental epileptic encephalopathy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To summarize the clinical features of developmental epileptic encephalopathy children with DNM1 gene variants. Methods:The genotypes and clinical features of 15 children with DNM1 variants related epilepsy in the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital from June 2017 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:A total of 8 male and 7 female epilepsy patients with DNM1 gene variants with the age of seizure onset ranging from 15 days to 22 months were recruited, median age was 8 months.All cases belonged to de novo heterozygous variants of the DNM1 gene, including 13 cases of missense variants, 1 case of frame shift variant and 1 case of nonsense variant, 8 cases of ectopic sites have not been reported.Multiple seizure types were observed, including epileptic spasms in 15 patients, focal seizure in 9 patients, atypical absence seizure in 2 patients and tonic seizure in 2 patients.There were various types of seizures in 7 children.Nine cases occurred as infantile spasm for the first time.All 15 patients showed varied degrees of development delay, among them, 11 cases had developmental retardation before epilepsy.Three patients had slow rhythm of electroencephalogram background activity, the electroencephalography showed hypsarrhythmia in 13 patients; clinical seizures were detected in 8 cases, among them, epileptic spasms were captured in 7 patients, tonic seizure was captured in 1 patient.Widened frontotemporal subarachnoid space, cerebral atrophy, and corpus callosum dysplasia were examined in 6, 2 and 3 patients by cranial magnetic resonance imaging, respectively.All 15 cases were diagnosed as developmental epileptic encephalopathy, of which 13 cases were consistent with infantile spasms.The age of the last follow-up ranged from 1 year old to 7 years old.After multi-antiepileptic drug treatment, 2 patients were remission, 1 patient(small size of identical twins) died of severe pneumonia at the age of 2 years, and 12 patients still had intermittent seizures, of which 1 patient was transformed from infantile spasms to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Conclusions:The onset age of developmental epileptic encephalopathy caused by the DNM1 gene variant usually begins in the infantile period, the peak onset age was 8 months.The main types of seizures include epileptic spasms and focal seizures, developmental retardation can occur before seizures.The clinical manifestations are mostly infantile spasms syndrome, and some children can be transformed into Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Research progress of copy number variations associated with infantile spasms / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Infantile spasms (ISs) is an age-dependent epileptic encephalopathy, which is highly associated with cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay.At present, inheritance patterns, including chromosomal abnormalities, copy number variations (CNVs), and monogenic diseases have been found to correlated with the etiology of ISs.Among them, CNVs or structural chromosome rearrangements are of great significance in the pathogenesis of ISs.This article aims to review the research progress of CNVs and ISs, thus providing references for further clarifying the molecular mechanism and genetic basis of ISs.

West syndrome: clinic etiological profile, and response to treatment in Western India

Background: Information on the profile of infants with West syndrome in developing countries is limited. This study was done to determine clinico-etiological profile and clinical response of infantile spasms to various medications in children with west syndrome in a developing country.Methods: It was a retrospective cohort study from January 2017-january 2020 done in a tertiary care hospital in western India. Records of 39 children with west syndrome who visited this pediatric neurology division during study period were analysed. 6 were excluded in view of incomplete data. Detailed history, examination, investigations and medications given were noted. Follow up records were assessed to look for long term control of spasms, relapse rates after cessation, or progression to other seizure types.Results: Mean age at onset of infantile spasms was found to be 8.12 months (1 - 36 months).' Mean lag time to treatment was 5.35 months. Etiology was found in 69.7% children with perinatal causes being most common. With oral prednisolone, 54.5% had complete cessation of spasms, and with ACTH also 54.5% had complete spasm cessation. Favourable clinical response at 6 months follow up was found in 8 (47.05%) of the 17 children. Surprisingly, lag time (p=0.381) and symptomatic etiology (p=1.00) did not have any significant impact on outcome.Conclusions: This study highlights the developing country perspective of west syndrome. Increased lag time, different etiological profile and poor outcome are the challenges. High dose prednisolone is a good first line alternative treatment option in resource poor settings.

Efectos Adversos del Tratamiento con Vigabatrina en Síndrome de West: reporte de 2 casos / Adverse Effects of Vigabatrin Use for West Syndrome treatment: a report of 2 Clinical Cases

El síndrome de West (SW) es un síndrome epiléptico de la infancia temprana. Dentro de los fármacos de primera línea utilizados para su tratamiento se encuentran la hormona adrenocorticotropa (ACTH) y Vigabatrina. Estudios sugieren igual efectividad en el uso a largo plazo de ambos para controlar el SW. En Chile, el uso de Vigabatrina ha aumentado dada su mayor disponibilidad, facilidad de uso y menor costo. Se describen 2 casos clínicos presentando complicaciones agudas infrecuentes secundarias a su uso. Ambos pacientes con antecedentes de SW y trisomía 21. Primer caso: Lactante de 11 meses que inicia tratamiento con 100 mg/kg/día de Vigabatrina a los 7 meses, aumentando a 150 mg/kg/día por mala respuesta. Evolucionó con un síndrome extrapiramidal, con alteraciones radiológicas características. Segundo caso: Lactante de 7 meses, que tras iniciar tratamiento con vigabatrina (100 mg/kg/día) desarrolla rash facial sugerente de hipersensibilidad a fármacos antiepilépticos (FAEs), sin compromiso mucoso ni alteraciones sistémicas. Ambas regresan a su basal luego de suspensión o disminución de dosis del medicamento. Destaca la importancia de la monitorización de efectos adversos en el uso de FAEs y atender la aparición de reacciones poco conocidas. Las alteraciones imagenológicas por Vigabatrina son conocidas, no así el síndrome extrapiramidal asociado (primer caso). Por otra parte, las reacciones cutáneas están ampliamente descritas para múltiples FAEs, pero no para Vigabatrina (segundo caso). Dado el uso frecuente de Vigabatrina para tratar SW y otras epilepsias, es fundamental conocer y manejar reacciones adversas poco conocidas como las aquí presentadas. Palabras claves: Síndrome de West, Síndrome de Down, espasmos infantiles, vigabatrina, reacciones adversas, toxicidad, alergia, rash.

West Syndrome is an epileptic syndrome which typically presents in early childhood. In regard to treatment, the first line includes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and Vigabatrin. Studies suggest similar response in the long term to both treatments. In Chile, Vigabatrin is being used more frequently as it is more available, of easier administration and lower cost. We present in the following report 2 clinical cases that presented acute infrequent complications secondary to its use in patients with both Down and West Syndrome. First case: 11-month-old infant who was initially treated with 100mg/kg/day of Vigabatrin at 7 months of age and increased to 150mg/kg/day due to lack of response. She evolved with an extrapyramidal syndrome with radiological manifestations. The second case: 7-month old toddler who initiated treatment with 100mg/kg/day of Vigabatrin and developed a facial rash, suggestive of hypersensitivity to antiepileptic drugs, with no mucosal or systemic involvement. Both patients returned to their previous condition shortly after Vigabatrin was decreased or discontinued. We emphasize the importance of the early monitorization of adverse effects in the use of antiepileptic drugs and awareness of less common reactions. Radiological findings associated with the use of Vigabatrin are well known, but not the clinical evolution with symptomatic extrapyramidal symptoms, as in the first case. Allergic reactions to the use of antiepileptic drugs have also been reported to several drugs, but not to Vigabatrin (second case). As Vigabatrin is being used more frequently to treat WS and other epilepsies it is important to know and manage uncommon adverse reactions as the ones presented in this report. Keywords: West Syndrome, Down Syndrome, infantile spasms, vigabatrin, adverse reactions, toxicity, allergy, rash

Clinical study on treatment of infantile spasms with incremental corticotrophin therapy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To summarize the efficacy and adverse reactions of incremental corticotrophin (ACTH) therapy in the treatment of infantile spasms (IS),and to provide new clinical treatment options.Methods The clinical data of 40 children with IS who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology,Shanghai Children's Medical Center,Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine,treated with ACTH from January 2016 to January 2018 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.All the children were treated with intravenous infusion of ACTH with an initial dose 12.5 U/d for 3 days.If the spasms did not disappear,dosage of ACTH increased to 25.0 U/d for another 3 days.If the spasms could not yet be fully controlled,the dosage increased to 40.0 U/d,and the total course of treatment did not exceed 2 weeks.If the spasms disappeared at each dose stage or the course of treatment reached to 2 weeks,ACTH would be changed to Prednisone 2 mg/(kg · d) orally,which gradually decreased in 2 months.All children underwent electroencephalogram examination before and after treatment.Results Forty patients with IS were treated with ACTH increasing therapy.The disappearance rate of spasms was 40.0％ (16/40 cases) totally,with 7.5％ (3/40 cases) at the dosage phase of 12.5 U/d,16.2％ (6/37 cases) at the dosage stage of 25.0 U/d,and 22.6％ (7/31 cases) at the dosage of 40.0 U/d.The disappearance rate of hypsarrhythmia on electroencephalogram was 60.0％ (24/40 cases) generally,and 5.0％ (2/40 cases),10.8％ (4/37 cases),58.1％ (18/31 cases),respectively at above different dosage phases,while 37.5％ (15/40 cases) of the children had mild adverse reactions,mostly respiratory infections.Conclusions The short-term efficacy of the ACTH incremental therapy in the treatment of IS is positive,and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

Aicardi syndrome: a case report / Síndrome de Aicardi: relato de caso

Abstract Introduction: the Aicardi syndrome (SA) is characterized as a rare syndrome identified in the presence of three classic characteristics: corpus callosum agenesis, chorioretinal lacunaeand infantile spasms. Description: data collection involved information reported by the mother and the accompanying physiotherapist describing the patient's clinical history andmajor complications according to clinical evolution, treatment, and therapeutic response. At two months of age, the child presented a delayed neuropsychomotor development and infantile spasms.However,the diagnosis of the syndrome was only performed at six months of life, involving brain magnetic resonance imaging where corneal body agenesis was observed. A multidisciplinary treatment was assembledwith a neuropediatrician, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, a nutritionistand a speech therapist, besides drug treatment with baclofen and phenobarbital. Discussion: through the established treatment, the child displayedmotor gain, cervical control, improvement of the respiratory condition, and no need forhospital admissions;these outcomescharacterizea good clinical evolution associated with the physiotherapeutic intervention focused on prevention and minimization of respiratory alterationsthatare frequently associated with morbidity and mortality in these cases. The results obtained point out the fundamental role of multidisciplinary intervention in coping with this condition.

Resumo Introdução: a Síndrome de Aicardi (SA), caracteriza-se como uma síndrome rara identificada na presença das três características clássicas: agenesia de corpo caloso, lacunas coriorretinianas e espamos infantis. Descrição: a coleta de dados envolveu informações relatadas pela genitora e pelo fisioterapeuta acompanhante da paciente, descrevendo assim a história clínica da paciente, as principais complicações de acordo com a evolução clínica, o tratamento e resposta terapêutica. Aos dois meses de idade a criança apresentou atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor e espasmos infantis, porém o diagnóstico da síndrome foi realizado somente aos seis meses de vida envolvendo um exame de ressonância magnética de encéfalo onde foi observada agenesia de corpo caloso, iniciando-se tratamento multidisciplinar com neuropediatra, fisioterapeuta, psicólogo, nutricionista e fonoaudiólogo, além do tratamento medicamentoso com baclofeno e fenobarbital. Discussão: através do tratamento estabelecido, a criança obteve ganho motor, controle cervical, melhora da condição respiratória e sem internações hospitalares, caracterizando uma boa evolução associada particularmente à intervenção fisioterapêutica que teve enfoque na prevenção e minimização de alterações respiratórias frequentemente associadas à morbidades e mortalidade nestes casos. Os resultados obtidos apontam o papel fundamental da intervenção multidisciplinar para o enfrentamento desta condição.

Progress in the treatment of infantile spasms / 临床儿科杂志

Infantile spasms (IS) is an age dependent epileptic encephalopathy in early infancy. Early diagnosis and treatment (within 4 weeks of onset) are beneficial to the termination of seizures and long-term cognitive protection. This paper reviewed the related literatures in the treatment of infantile spasms, mainly including the first-line and second-line drugs, the ketogenic diet and surgical treatment, to discuss the recent advances in the treatment of infantile spasms.

Long-term prenatal stress increases susceptibility of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced spasms in infant rats / 소아과

PURPOSE: Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is an age-specific epileptic seizure. Most patients with this condition also exhibit delayed development. This study aimed to determine the effect of long-term prenatal stress on susceptibility to infantile spasms. METHODS: We subjected pregnant rats to acute or chronic immobilization stress. Resulting offspring received N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (15 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on postnatal day 15, and their behaviors were observed 75 minutes after injection. The expression of KCC2 and GAD67 was also determined using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Exposure to long-term prenatal stress increased the frequency of spasms and decreased the latency to onset of spasms compared with offspring exposed to short-term prenatal stress. Expression of KCC2 and GAD67 also decreased in the group exposed to long-term prenatal stress compared with the group exposed to short-term prenatal stress. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that exposure to long-term prenatal stress results in increased susceptibility to seizures.

Epilepsy and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: A Single Center's Experience

Abstract Epilepsy is a common manifestation of mitochondrial disease. In a large cohort of children and adolescents with mitochondrial disease (n = 180), over 48% of patients developed seizures. The majority (68%) of patients were younger than 3 years and medically intractable (90%). The electroencephalographic pattern of multiregional epileptiform discharges over the left and right hemisphere with background slowing occurred in 62%. The epilepsy syndrome, infantile spasms, was seen in 17%. Polymerase ? mutations were the most common genetic etiology of seizures, representing Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome (14%). The severity of disease in those patients with epilepsy was significant, as 13% of patients experienced early death. Simply the loss of energy production cannot explain the development of seizures or all patients with mitochondrial dysfunction would have epilepsy. Until the various aspects of mitochondrial physiology that are involved in proper brain development are understood, epilepsy and its treatment will remain unsatisfactory.

Protective effect of high-dose methylprednisolone on the immature rats with infantile spasms / 国际儿科学杂志

Objective Infantile spasms ( IS ) is the most common intractable epileptic encephalopathy during infancy,but there is the lack of animal experiment. By building IS animal model, the study discusses whether high-dose methylprednisolone has the protective effect on the immature rats of infantile spasms. Meth-ods Sprague-Dawley immature rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups on postnatal day 10 ( P10 ):control group、model groupⅠand model groupⅡ,thirty rats in each group. Immature rats in model groupⅠand mod-el group Ⅱ were injected NMDA intraperitoneally to induce seizures. The rats in the model groupⅡwere injec-ted intraperitoneally methylprednisolone on postnatal day 11,12 and 13. The clinical behavior of rats were ob-served and recorded. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to analyze the expression of Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3 in hippocampus. Results (1)83. 3% of rats in model groupⅠhad seizures,and none of rats in model groupⅡhad seizures on postnatal day 13. (2)The apop-totic cell number of brain tissues:model group Ⅱ( 14. 37 ± 2. 02 ) were lower than model group Ⅰ( 25. 67 ± 1. 52)and higher than control group(9. 00 ± 2. 50),the difference was statistically significant(all P<0. 05). (3)Bax protein and mRNA expression levels in model group Ⅱ(44. 55 ± 3. 58,2. 35 ± 1. 01)were lower than model group Ⅰ(58. 05 ± 4. 62,3. 27 ± 0. 95)and higher than control group (28. 90 ± 5. 14,1. 68 ± 0. 50),there was significant difference(all P<0. 05);(4)Caspase-3 expression levels of mRNA in model groupⅡ(5. 99 ± 1. 75) were lower than those in group model group Ⅰ(7. 88 ± 1. 60) and higher than those in control group (3. 60 ± 1. 70),there was significant difference(all P<0. 05). Conclusion High-dose methylprednisolone can reduce NMDA-induced seizures in the IS immature rats. High-dose methylprednisolone has protective effect on the NMDA-induced IS immature rats,which may be relation to weakening seizures and decreasing apoptosis.