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Epileptic Spasms: A Variety of Etiologies and Associated Syndromes

Children's Memorial Hospital Epilepsy Center, McGaw Medical Center/Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, jgoldstein{at}childrensmemorial.org

Jessica Slomski, BA

Children's Memorial Hospital Epilepsy Center, McGaw Medical Center/Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

Epileptic spasms have been described as a paroxysmal epileptic seizure type that consists of a series of motor movements, involving sudden flexion or extension predominantly of axial and/or proximal limb muscles, occurring with a noticeable periodicity, outside the age of infantile spasms, but have otherwise not been well characterized or described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with epileptic spasms to describe the etiology and best treatment regimen for this seizure type. Twenty-eight children fit the selection criteria for this study, and their charts and electroencephalography (EEG) results were reviewed. Data regarding onset of seizures, characteristics of seizures, duration of seizures, activity at onset, treatments tried and/or failed, genetic or metabolic workup, and results of any imaging studies were collected. The results indicate that the genetic and metabolic workups that were done were most often negative or unrevealing. In addition, treatment regimens varied greatly from patient to patient, and it is evident that these seizures are refractory to many standard anticonvulsants, as well as the ketogenic diet. The results of imaging from this series point to a variety of structural abnormalities that could possibly explain a structural versus metabolic etiology for epileptic spasms. In conclusion, epileptic spasms remain an elusive seizure type to classify, diagnose, and treat. The results of the current series show a relationship between structural abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resultant epileptic spasms, which has further implications regarding surgical treatment of these seizures as opposed to the traditional treatment with anticonvulsants, to which epileptic spasms remain refractory.

Key Words: epileptic spasms • periodic spasms • epilepsy syndrome

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