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Infantile spasms as a cause of acquired perinatal visual loss
Brian P Brooks1, Jennifer L Simpson, Steven M Leber
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. brooksb@mail.nih.gov
Insights
Infantile spasms (IS) can cause visual regression in children. Prompt treatment of seizures may improve vision, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Infantile spasms (IS) are a severe epileptic encephalopathy in early childhood.
- Visual abnormalities are frequently observed in infants diagnosed with IS.
Observation:
- This study details 3 children experiencing cortically mediated visual regression alongside IS development.
- One child presented with loss of visual behavior as the initial symptom.
Findings:
- All patients demonstrated improvement in visual behavior following seizure treatment.
- This suggests a direct link between seizure control and visual recovery in IS.
Implications:
- Infantile spasms represent a treatable cause of visual impairment in young children.
- Timely referral for evaluation and management of IS is crucial for potential visual outcome improvement.
Background:
Visual abnormalities have been described in patients with infantile spasms (IS), an epileptic syndrome of early childhood.
Methods:
We report on 3 children who exhibited cortically mediated visual regression in association with the development of IS.
Results:
In 1 patient, loss of visual behavior was the presenting complaint. In all patients, visual behavior improved with treatment of seizures.
Conclusions:
IS are a potentially treatable cause of cortically impaired vision in early childhood. Because visual behavior might improve when the seizures are treated, patients should be referred appropriately.