Related Experiment Videos
Induced microseizures in West syndrome
1Division of Pediatric Neurology, Osaka Medical Center, Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Japan.
Abstract:
Induced microseizures (IMS) were observed in a 5-month-old girl with symptomatic West syndrome. The seizures occurred following the suppression of infantile spasms with adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy and disappeared following the cessation of clonazepam administration. The ictal manifestations consisted of periods of irregular respiration, and respiratory arrest lasting for several seconds which often involved opening of the eyes and mild extension of the neck corresponding with the diffuse fast wave bursts in EEG activity observed during sleep. These seizures were thought to be equivalent to the IMS in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which have never been reported before in patients with West syndrome.
Insights
Induced microseizures (IMS) were observed in a 5-month-old girl with West syndrome. These seizures, resembling those in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, appeared after treatment and resolved upon medication withdrawal.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- West syndrome is a severe infantile epilepsy characterized by infantile spasms.
- Treatment often involves hormonal therapies and anti-seizure medications.
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome shares some EEG and clinical features with West syndrome.
Observation:
- A 5-month-old girl with symptomatic West syndrome developed new seizure types.
- These induced microseizures (IMS) occurred after adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy suppressed infantile spasms.
- The IMS manifested as respiratory irregularities and arrest, eye-opening, and neck extension, correlating with EEG fast wave bursts.
Findings:
- The observed induced microseizures (IMS) in West syndrome are a novel finding.
- These IMS episodes resolved upon discontinuation of clonazepam.
- The clinical and EEG characteristics of these IMS were similar to those previously reported in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Implications:
- This finding expands the understanding of seizure manifestations in West syndrome.
- It suggests a potential link or overlap in seizure semiology between West syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
- Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and clinical significance of IMS in different epileptic encephalopathies.