Add-on treatment with pyridoxine and sulthiame in 12 infants with West syndrome:: an open clinical study

To investigate the effect of sulthiame (STM) in West syndrome (WS) an open, uncontrolled add-on study was undertaken during initial pyridoxine (PDX) therapy in 12 infants, two with idiopathic and ten with symptomatic WS. All patients were initially treated with PDX (150-300 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1)). In seven patients (58%) seizures and hypsarrhythmia stopped during the week after introduction of STM (10 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1)). In one the positive effect was temporary. Five of the responders (42%) remained seizure-free and without hypsarrhythmia under STM monotherapy, while one developed complex partial seizures after 25 months. STM was most effective in idiopathic WS (2/2). During treatment with STM medication no patient suffered side effects attributable to the substance. Further controlled studies are necessary to evaluate the benefit of this potentially effective treatment. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of BEA Trading Ltd.