Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Treatment of preterm infants with West syndrome: differences due to etiology
Takeo Mure1, Taku Nakagawa, Yo Okizuka
1Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan. m3u3r9e-1577@iris.eonet.ne.jp
Insights
Preterm infants with West syndrome (WS) show better treatment responses, particularly to oral medications. Understanding the cause of WS is crucial for effective treatment strategies in these infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
Background:
- West syndrome (WS) is a severe infant epilepsy.
- Etiology of WS significantly impacts treatment outcomes.
- Focus on preterm infants with WS and their response to oral medication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate treatment response differences in preterm infants with West syndrome based on etiology.
- To compare the effectiveness of oral anti-epileptic agents and synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 53 patients with WS (2005-2009).
- Classification into six etiological groups: prenatal, term, preterm, postnatal, other, and no identified etiology.
- Evaluation of short-term outcomes using oral anti-epileptic agents and ACTH.
Main Results:
- Preterm WS infants demonstrated superior response to treatment, especially oral medications, compared to prenatal and term groups.
- The preterm group experienced significantly lower seizure relapse rates (14%) than the prenatal group.
- Age of onset was significantly earlier in the term group (3.3 ± 1.0 months) compared to other etiological groups.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants with West syndrome exhibit favorable responses to treatment.
- Differentiating WS patients by etiology is essential for accurate treatment effectiveness evaluation.
Background:
This study was conducted with a particular focus on preterm infants with West syndrome (WS) to evaluate differences in the first responses to oral medication based on etiology.
Methods:
Medical records of 53 patients with WS, treated at five institutions between 2005 and 2009, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into six groups based on the time of brain insult, and evaluated for short-term outcomes using oral anti-epileptic agents and synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Results:
The sample consisted of 15, six, 14, two, four, and 12 patients classified, on the basis of apparent time of acquisition of etiology, into the prenatal, term, preterm, postnatal, other, and no identified etiology groups, respectively. Average age of onset in the term group was 3.3 ± 1.0 months, significantly earlier than in the prenatal, preterm, postnatal and no identified etiology groups (P < 0.05). All patients in the term group had experienced seizures before the onset of WS. Only patients in the preterm group had only experienced neonatal seizures, and responded better to treatment. Patients in the preterm group had better responses to treatment, especially oral medication, compared with those in the prenatal and term groups. The prevalence of relapse of seizures in the preterm group (14%) was significantly lower than that in the prenatal group.
Conclusions:
Preterm WS patients responded well to treatment. Distinguishing WS patients on the basis of different etiologies is important for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
01:19Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology