West syndrome, can topiramate be on top?

OBJECTIVE: To determine Topiramate efficacy on treatment of infantile spasms and ancillary seizures, and whether there were any improvements on EEG.

METHODS: A retrospective study of 18 patients with infantile spasms recruited from the Pediatric Unit at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Saudi Arabia was carried out between January 2004 and December 2008. Topiramate was used as treatment in 7 males and 11 females aged 2-14 months. The maximum dose was 12 mg/kg/day.

RESULTS: The etiology in 9 (50%) patients was cryptogenic, 6 (33%) symptomatic, and 3 (17%) idiopathic. After Topiramate treatment 6 (33%) were spasm free, 8 (44%) had ≥50% reduction, 2 (11%) had no change, and one (6%) had worsening of their spasms. Eight patients had ancillary seizures, 2 (25%) were seizure free, 2 (25%) had ≥50% seizure reduction, and 4 (50%) had no change in the ancillary seizure. The EEG showed hypsarrhythmia in 14 (78%). Post Topiramate, the EEG was normal in one (5%), improved in 3 (17%), showed persistent hypsarrhythmia in 8 (44%), and evolved to other features in 3 (17%). Three patients developed side effects such as weight loss and irritability, for which 2 patients stopped the medication.

CONCLUSION: Topiramate has a good effect on the clinical features of West syndrome, but not on the EEG. It was tolerated with minimal side effects.