Prevalence of pyridoxine dependent seizures in south Indian children with early onset intractable epilepsy: A hospital based prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Determine the prevalence of pyridoxine dependent seizures in children less than 16 years of age attending a teaching hospital in south India with early onset (before 3 years) intractable epilepsy of unknown aetiology, using the criteria proposed by Baxter.


METHODS
A cohort of 81 children, fulfilling the above criteria, was given 15 mg/kg/day of oral pyridoxine for 7 days. Non-responders were given a further 7-day trial of 30 mg/kg/day. Diagnosis of pyridoxine dependent seizures was made according to the criteria proposed by Baxter.


RESULTS
Six children (7.4%; four boys and two girls) were identified as definite cases and were continued on B6, without recurrence of seizures. Median age of seizure onset and diagnosis were 2.5 months and 2 year 9 months, respectively. No significant complications were observed with B6 therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Chance of identifying PDS is not low in a subpopulation of children with intractable early onset cryptogenic epilepsy using the criteria proposed by Baxter, which warrants a therapeutic trial with B6 in them.
Ramachandrannair
Rajesh
R
Department of Neurology, Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, India 673008. rajeshrnair@hotmail.com
Parameswaran
Manoj
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011736:Pyridoxine