Infantile spasms : electroclinical syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Epileptology

Background:

• Infantile spasms (IS) is an age-specific seizure disorder in infancy/early childhood.
• IS can be part of an epileptic syndrome with hypsarrhythmia or chronic spasms with mental retardation.
• Limited information on IS exists in Indian medical literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate infantile spasms cases in India.
• To analyze clinical characteristics, EEG findings, and treatment responses.
• To identify common causes and therapeutic outcomes in Indian infants with IS.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 29 patients with infantile spasms over 5 years at NIMHANS.
• EEG evaluation for all patients; hypsarrhythmia pattern noted in 5.
• Analysis of patient data including etiology, treatment (anticonvulsants, ACTH/Steroids), and follow-up.

Main Results:

• All 29 patients had abnormal EEGs; 5 showed hypsarrhythmia.
• 14 cases were cryptogenic; the rest were symptomatic, with birth asphyxia being the most frequent cause.
• Mean follow-up was 18 months; treatment responses varied based on etiology and therapy.

Conclusions:

• Infantile spasms present unique challenges in the Indian context.
• Birth asphyxia is a significant etiological factor in symptomatic IS.
• Further research is needed to optimize management and understand outcomes for infantile spasms in India.