title: Vigabatrin as a first-choice drug in the treatment of West syndrome.
abstract: This is a prospective study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vigabatrin as first-choice monotherapy in infants with West syndrome. One hundred sixteen patients with newly diagnosed West syndrome were studied in Argentina, from June 1994 to April 1998. The follow-up ranged from 17 to 40 months (mean, 23 months). Vigabatrin was administered upon diagnosis, starting with a 50-mg/kg/day dose and increasing 50 mg/kg every 48 hours to reach a maximum dose of 200 mg/kg/day. Twenty-nine percent of cases were considered to be cryptogenic or idiopathic West syndrome, while 70.7% were symptomatic. Response to vigabatrin treatment was measured according to five categories: (1) seizures free: 61.8% of cases for cryptogenic and 29.3% for symptomatic West syndrome, (2) more than 75% reduction in the number of infantile spasms: 14.7% for cryptogenic and 26.8% for symptomatic West syndrome, (3) from 50% to 74% reduction in the number of infantile spasms: 11.8% for cryptogenic and 24.4% for symptomatic West syndrome, (4) poor or null response: 11.8% for cryptogenic and 18.3% for symptomatic West syndrome, and (5) increase in the number of infantile spasms: one symptomatic case (1.2%). All seizure-free cryptogenic cases showed normal neuropsychic development. The most effective dose of vigabatrin was 150 mg/kg of body weight per day. The most frequent adverse events were somnolence in 19 cases and irritability in 15 cases, but none required treatment interruption.
authors.affiliation: Hospital J.P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fejerman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cersósimo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caraballo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grippo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aldao
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caccia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Retamero
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Macat
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Di Blasi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adi
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001118:Argentina; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020888:Vigabatrin