RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Infantile spasms
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 273
OP 278
VO 51
IS 2
A1 Robert P. Cruse
YR 1984
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/51/2/273.abstract
AB West's syndrome is an age-specific set of symptoms consisting of myoclonic epilepsy (infantile spasms), an interictal electroencephalographic pattern (hypsarrhythmia), and moderate-to-severe mental retardation. Infantile spasms were first reported in 1841, but all three characteristics were not described until 1951. The basic pathophysiology of and ideal therapy for the seizures remain undefined. The author reviews the historical aspects, clinical manifestations, etiology, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of West's syndrome.