Infantile spasms and West syndrome

: West syndrome, an epileptic encephalopathy of infancy and early childhood with variable etiology, consist of the triad of infantile spasms, arrest or regress of psychomotor development and specific EEG pattern of hypsarrhythmia. Infantile spasms occur within the first year of life. West syndrome has proved to be resistant to treatment, although VPA and benzodiazepines have been shown to be helpful. Then is general agreement that ACTH or oral corticosteroids remain the treatment of choice, especially in idiopathic cases, which have a better prognosis.