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Infantile Spasms

Wed, 01/25/2006 - 10:14
My son Tommy was diagnosed with Infantile spasms at 5 months old. We noticed "twitches" that our pediatrician told us may be primal reflexes. After a few more days of seeing my son having "jack knife" seizures where his head would drop and his arms would fly up and his knees being pulled to his chest - I knew something was definitely wrong. My husband video taped the seizures and we brought the tape to our peditrician to view. He immediately suggested we go to see a neurologist and have a EEG done. We did. That same day our son was admitted to the hospital for one week for many tests. He had a spinal tap to rule out any type of in fection. Then he had a CAT Scan, an MRI, many blood tests as well as X-rays done. Everything came back normal. My son shows no sign of mental retardation and seems to be on track developmentally. He was put on ACTH for one month with no change to his spasms. He is also taking Kolonopin. He also has acid reflux and is taking Zantac for that. We are now on Topamax. It has been about 2 weeks and we see little improvement. Tommy has head bobs throughout the day, he has clusters of spasms when he wakes from naps and in the morning, he also jerks when he is drifting off to sleep. He is now being waken at night from the seizures. We feel helpless. We heard that the longer we take to stop the spasms the greater the chance that Tommy could stop developing or take steps backwards in his development. Our neurologist suggested tryung a drug from Canada called Vigabatrin or Sabril. We are from the US and it is not approved here yet. I have done some research on this drug and it seems dangerous for long term use. We just don't know what to do. Any advice anyone has will greatly be appreciated. Thank You!

Comments

Infantile Spasms vs. West Syndrome

Submitted by gtcoffey on Wed, 2009-05-20 - 14:45
My son Cal (4 months old) is experiencing infantile spasms but his EEG shows no sign of hypsarrhythmia which apparently means that he does not have West syndrome (or at least not yet). I am trying to learn if the spasms themselves pose a risk to his development, or is it only in cases of West syndrome where the prognosis is so poor? Much of the information I have seen treats infantile spasms and West syndrome as the same thing. But, it seems that they are separate -- though often related -- issues. Can anybody offer any insight? We are on the verge of starting him on vigabatrin, but some of the side effects (e.g. irreversible damage to the retina) have us worried. Then again, it seems that partial loss of vision would be preferable to arrested development and mental retardation. What horrible choices and brutal trade-offs we are being forced to make for him!

Re: Infantile Spasms vs. West Syndrome

Submitted by AnnettaPBSaggese on Sat, 2010-01-30 - 22:47

Hi,

 

My 5 month old daughter was also diagnosed with partial complex seizures and Infantile Spasms but no signs of hypsarrythmia at 2 months.  What did you decide about the Vigabitrin? We just started topamax, but if that does not work, we are going to have to go with vagabitrin. 

 I cannot seem to get a straight answer about lack of hyps with mental retardation. Is your understanding that this something we need to worry about?  Her neuro says that hyps cannot spontaneously develop. Is that what you have been told?

 DO you have any pearls of wisdom for us? We tried the ketogenic diet, but she was too young and had a terrible reaction to it.

 Thanks!

-Annetta

Hi,

 

My 5 month old daughter was also diagnosed with partial complex seizures and Infantile Spasms but no signs of hypsarrythmia at 2 months.  What did you decide about the Vigabitrin? We just started topamax, but if that does not work, we are going to have to go with vagabitrin. 

 I cannot seem to get a straight answer about lack of hyps with mental retardation. Is your understanding that this something we need to worry about?  Her neuro says that hyps cannot spontaneously develop. Is that what you have been told?

 DO you have any pearls of wisdom for us? We tried the ketogenic diet, but she was too young and had a terrible reaction to it.

 Thanks!

-Annetta

Re: Re: Re: Infantile Spasms

Submitted by cheryl2 on Mon, 2006-01-30 - 13:51
Hi, I never heard of West Syndrome. Thanks for the info. My daughters IS doesn't show up as seizures during her eeg. So I guess its just a startle reflex for her. I'm soory about Tommy. I know how hard it is to watch your child go threw this . It always scared me to death. Melody is 14 now. Unfortunately she seized for 8 and a half hours at the age of 2. She is now totally disabled. But she doesn' t have seizures any more. I know of alot of children who grow out of having seizures. Melody just got unluckey. But I've taking care of her for years, and I concider her a gift from God. Hang in there, try and be strong. I know its easier said then done. I'll be praying for Tommy and you.

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