Study of infantile spasms in developmentally delayed infants with seizures

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted at Zagazig University Hospital, Pediatric Department, during a period of 8 months. To discuss the relationship between developmental delay associated with seizures and the presence of infantile spasms. 40 infants selected on the bisis of developmental delay in association with the presence of seizures. They were divided into two groups Group I included developmentally delayed infants with infantile spasms and group II included developmentally delayed infants with other types of seizures. The two groups were compared regarding age, gender, family history, cutaneous manifestations of neuro-cutaneous syndromes notably tuberous sclerosis, dysmorphic features, EEG findings, CT brain findings, chromosomal analysis, TORCH screen and reducing substances in urine. Infantile spasms were present in 22.5% of cases, 44.4% of them developed other types of seizures; and it was the commonest type of seizures in developmentally delayed infants. No significant statistical difference was found between both groups regarding age, sex, family history, microcephaly, muscle tone, dysmorphic features; and cutaneous manifestations of neurocutaneous syndromes apart from association of group I with tuberous sclerosis which was statistically significant. Also, there was no significant statistical difference between both groups as regard CT brain findings, chromosomal analysis, TORCH screen; and reducing substances in urine. Although hypsarrhythmia was not found in all cases of group I, its presence was statistically significant, but other types of EEG abnormalities were statistically insignificant. Regarding findings related to all cases of both groups, microcephaly occurred in 37.5% of cases, brain atrophy in 50% of cases; and dysmorphic feature were present in 25% of cases, half of them had chromosomal anomalies