Abstract
The present study examined whether changes in the incidence of West syndrome (WS)
could be used to evaluate changes in the quality of prenatal care over time. The incidence
of WS in Finland did not change (1960–1991) in spite of increased survival of low-birth-weight
infants. Small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants were more apt to develop infantile
spasms than preterm average-for-gestational age infants. The number of SGA infants
with neonatal hypoglycemia and infantile spasms decreased significantly. The number
of cases of brain malformation and tuberous sclerosis increased; this probably reflects
the development of more refined neuroradiological screening methods. Early prenatal
factors seem to play a major role in the genesis of infantile spasms. Little can be
done to reduce the incidence of WS, but every effort should be made to reduce the
number of SGA infants by good prenatal care and treating neonatal hypoglycemia carefully.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 31,
2001
Received in revised form:
May 28,
2001
Received:
April 9,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
