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Epileptic Spasms During Recovery From Nutritional Infantile Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Jatinder Singh Goraya1, Amneet Kaur1, Savi Setia1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

Pediatric Neurology
|July 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Infants with vitamin B12 deficiency can develop epileptic spasms, sometimes during recovery. Prompt vitamin B12 treatment is crucial, but subsequent spasms may require further intervention, impacting developmental outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency is a rare cause of infantile epileptic spasms.
  • Epileptic spasms can occur concurrently with or during recovery from vitamin B12 deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the presentation and management of three infants with vitamin B12 deficiency who developed epileptic spasms during recovery.
  • To highlight the potential impact of these spasms on neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Case series describing three infants with vitamin B12 deficiency.
  • Clinical and laboratory data collection.
  • Electroencephalography (EEG) for hypsarrhythmia assessment.
  • Treatment with vitamin B12, prednisolone, and other antiseizure medications.

Main Results:

  • All three infants presented with vitamin B12 deficiency and developed epileptic spasms during recovery.
  • EEG revealed hypsarrhythmia in all cases.
  • Vitamin B12 treatment initially resolved symptoms, but spasms emerged later.
  • Prednisolone and other antiseizure medications led to slow spasm resolution.
  • Two infants experienced cognitive and language delays.

Conclusions:

  • Epileptic spasms can emerge during the recovery phase of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants.
  • This phenomenon can complicate the clinical course and potentially affect neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Management may require both vitamin B12 repletion and specific epilepsy treatments.

Keywords:
Epileptic spasmsInfantsOutcomeRecoveryVitamin B(12) deficiency

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