[West's syndrome in patients with cerebral paralysis and periventricular leukomalacia: a good response to treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic response of West's syndrome (WS) associated with cerebral paralysis (CP) secondary to periventricular leucomalacia (PVL).


METHODS
We made a retrospective analysis of the clinical histories of 10 patients with SW and CP secondary to periventricular leucomalacia. We studied 10 patients, 9 boys and 1 girl with a current age of between 3 and 11 years, 8 premature newborn babies and two full term new born babies.


RESULTS
The infantile spasms (IS) started between the ages of 4-10 months (average age 8.3 months). In 100% of cases they came in runs. In one patient alone they were associated with partial motor crises. EEG showed typical hypsarrhythmia in 8 cases, asymmetrical hypsarrhythmia in 1 case and modified hypsarrhythmia in another case. Seven patients were given ACTH, associated with valproic acid in 4 cases and benzodiazepines in 2 cases. The remaining 3 patients were treated with valproate as the only drug. The IS disappeared and the EEG became normal within 14 days of the start of treatment in 9 patients who remain symptom-free after between 2 and 11.9 years follow-up. In one patient there was partial control of the spasms, and the clinical picture cleared up 10 months after starting treatment with vigabatrine. All 10 patients had spastic quadriplegia. All had mental retardation of between slight and serious degree. The cerebral CT and MR showed signs compatible with PVL and in 3 cases there was associated diffuse cerebral atrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
We have found a good electro-clinical response in 10 patients with WS, CP and PVL. The results are in agreement with those of other authors.
Caraballo
R
R
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cersósimo
R
R
Intruvini
S
S
Pociecha
J
J
Fejerman
N
N
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020888:Vigabatrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014635:Valproic Acid; D020888:Vigabatrin