title: Infantile spasms treated with high doses of sodium valproate: initial response and follow-up.
abstract: A long-term follow-up study of 42 patients with West syndrome treated with high doses of sodium valproate is presented. Control of the hypsarrhythmic EEG pattern was achieved after two weeks for over three-quarters of the patients with sodium valproate doses of 100 to 300mg/kg/day. Recurrence of hypsarrhythmia was observed most often in patients treated with doses lower than 200mg/kg/day. Other types of seizures appeared in half of the patients followed beyond two years of age. Monotherapy throughout follow-up was possible for 30 patients. Autism occurred in only one infant, and 12 achieved normal mental status. The most common side-effects were asymptomatic thrombocytopenia, vomiting and mild somnolence. Hepatic enzymes were not altered.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department, Hospital de Cruces, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prats
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garaizar
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rua
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garcia-Nieto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madoz
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid