Jonathan Y Bitton1, Béatrice Desnous2, Hannelore C Sauerwein1, Mary Connolly3, Shelly K Weiss4, Elizabeth J Donner4, Sharon Whiting5, Ismail S Mohamed6, Elaine C Wirrell7, Gabriel M Ronen8, Anne Lortie1. 1. Ste-Justine Hospital, Department of Pediatrics & Research Center, Canada. 2. Ste-Justine Hospital, Department of Pediatrics & Research Center, Canada.; Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Aix-Marseille, France. Electronic address: beatrice.desnous@ap-hm.fr. 3. BC. Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Canada. 4. The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, Canada. 5. Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Department of Pediatrics, Canada. 6. Izaak Walton Killam Health Center, Department of Pediatrics, Canada.; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA. 7. Mayo Clinic, Divisions of Child and Adolescent Neurology and Epilepsy, Department of Neurology, USA. 8. McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Canada.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the long-term developmental trajectory of children with infantile spasms (IS) and identify the clinical protective and risk factors associated with their cognitive outcome. METHODS: We analyzed the five-year follow-up results of 41 children (13 female) from the previously published cohort (n = 68) recruited in a multicenter randomized controlled trial for 2-years, examining the effect of an adjunctive therapy (Flunarizine) on standardized IS treatment. The children were subsequently monitored in an open-label study for additional 3 years. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, and either the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (SB5) or the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition (BSID-II) were used as cognitive outcome measures. RESULTS: Etiology was the strongest predictor of outcome. Children with no identified etiology (NIE) showed a progressive improvement of cognitive functions, mostly occurring between 2 and 5 years post-diagnosis. Conversely, symptomatic etiology was predictive of poorer cognitive outcome. Developmental delay, other seizure types (before and after IS diagnosis), and persistent electroencephalographic abnormalities following treatment were predictive of poor cognitive outcome. INTERPRETATION: Given the 5-year cognitive improvement, children with IS should undergo a developmental assessment before school entry. Factors influencing their cognitive outcome emphasize the importance of thorough investigation and evidence-based treatment.
AIM: To evaluate the long-term developmental trajectory of children with infantile spasms (IS) and identify the clinical protective and risk factors associated with their cognitive outcome. METHODS: We analyzed the five-year follow-up results of 41 children (13 female) from the previously published cohort (n = 68) recruited in a multicenter randomized controlled trial for 2-years, examining the effect of an adjunctive therapy (Flunarizine) on standardized IS treatment. The children were subsequently monitored in an open-label study for additional 3 years. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, second edition, and either the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (SB5) or the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition (BSID-II) were used as cognitive outcome measures. RESULTS: Etiology was the strongest predictor of outcome. Children with no identified etiology (NIE) showed a progressive improvement of cognitive functions, mostly occurring between 2 and 5 years post-diagnosis. Conversely, symptomatic etiology was predictive of poorer cognitive outcome. Developmental delay, other seizure types (before and after IS diagnosis), and persistent electroencephalographic abnormalities following treatment were predictive of poor cognitive outcome. INTERPRETATION: Given the 5-year cognitive improvement, children with IS should undergo a developmental assessment before school entry. Factors influencing their cognitive outcome emphasize the importance of thorough investigation and evidence-based treatment.
Authors: Monika Baker; Clint C Mason; Jacob Wilkes; David Sant; Matthew Sweney; Joshua L Bonkowsky Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-04-13 Impact factor: 4.003