Infantile Spasms and West Syndrome - A Clinician's Perspective

Infantile spasms, though long recognised, are still a cause of significant morbidity in children. The knowledge of their etiology and pathogenesis is still evolving. Even the management strategies vary among different centres. Hormonal treatments and vigabatrin have been recognised as effective but controversies prevail on the exact protocols that best balance the risk benefit ratio. Collaborative studies have begun to provide some clarity on some of the management issues but further large scale studies that further standardise protocols are a felt need. This article attempts to provide a clinically relevant summary of the current knowledge.