Abstract
Forty-four children (20 male: 24 female) with West syndrome (infantile spasms, mental
retardation/regression and hypsarrhythmia) diagnosed at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
(Pediatric Neurology Division of the Department of Child Health) are reported, with
thirty-four (77.3%) children constituting the symptomatic group. All children were
followed up for an initial 1 year at this hospital. Thirty-seven cases (84%) still
continue their follow-up with us. The age of onset ranged from 1 to 14 months (mean,
6.0 months). Developmental delay before the onset of infantile spasms was noted in
29 (65.9%) children. Brain computed tomography was abnormal in 29 (65.9%). Sodium
valproate and vigabatrin were the most often used drugs, though other antiepileptic
drugs were also used. Nine (24.5%) children achieved good seizure control, out of
which five have normal development. Only one child could be weaned off antiepileptic
drugs completely. There was one death in the whole series, related to aspiration pneumonia.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 10,
2001
Received in revised form:
August 7,
2001
Received:
February 11,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
