PROGNOSIS IN INFANTILE SPASMS

[摘要] A follow-up study has been conducted on 27 patients who had infantile spasms and normal electroencephalograms before the age of 1 year, and who did not have hypsarhythmia, the electroencephalographic abnormality which is usual in this condition. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the absence of electroencephalographic abnormality alters the prognosis. Less than half of the patients were found to be physically or mentally retarded and only one quarter still had seizures, which is somewhat better than was previously reported for cases with hypsarhythmia. However, the difference in prognosis is most evident as regards mental development: The present data indicate that there is a 55% chance that a child with infantile spasms and a normal electroencephalogram will develop normal mentality; the chance is only 15% with hypsarhythmia.

[学科分类] 儿科学