A Retrospective Cohort Study of Combined Therapy in West Syndrome associated with Trisomy 21

Abstract

Background: West syndrome (WS) is a frequent epileptic encephalopathy associated with Down syndrome (DS). This study evaluated an outpatient protocol for WS in patients with DS who received vigabatrin (VGB) or VGB plus adrenocorticotrophic hormone. Methods: We analyzed infants treated in two neuropediatric centers from 2001–2021. We reviewed perinatal and familial history of epilepsy, spasm onset, treatment lag, electroencephalogram, neuroimaging, progression to epilepsy, and other neurological conditions. The outcomes were electroclinical resolution (ECR), relapses, and epilepsy progression. Results: Nineteen infants were included; 57.8% were male. The average spasm onset, follow-up, and treatment lag were 6.4 months, 8.15 years, and 2.33 months, respectively. Almost 74% had ECR after protocol intervention and minor epilepsy progression. Relapses occurred during combined therapy. Conclusions: The treatment protocol, especially combined therapy, was effective for WS in DS, impacting epilepsy progression and indicating the effectiveness of combined therapy to treat WS in patients with trisomy 21.