title: Dyskinesia as a new adverse effect of hormonal treatment in West syndrome.
abstract: West syndrome is an age-dependent epileptic encephalopathy. Despite potential side effects, hormonal therapy remains the main treatment for West syndrome. Here, we report on 10 patients receiving steroid treatment who presented with unusual, mostly hyperkinetic, movements. Facial grimacing, repetitive mouth opening, adduction and abduction of upper and lower extremities, and periodical strabismus in different combinations were observed in all patients, independent of formulation, dose, duration, and efficacy of treatment. Symptoms disappeared in sleep and reappeared immediately on arousal. Dyskinesias stopped gradually after a month of discontinuation of treatment. Repeated EEGs did not show corresponding epileptiform activity. We conclude that these abnormal movements can be attributed to side effects of hormonal treatment.
authors.affiliation: "Arabkir" Medical Complex and Institute for Child and Adolescent Health, Chair of Pediatrics #1, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
authors.forename: Biayna G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sukhudyan
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child Neurology, St Naum University Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Petia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dimova
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCSS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capuano
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCSS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vigevano
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
keywords: ACTH; West syndrome; children; dyskinesia; infantile spasms; steroids