oa Epidemiology of infantile spasm in Qatar

In a 3-year retrospective study in Qatar (1992-1994) eleven patients, eight boys and three girls were diagnosed as having infantile spasm. The incidence was 0.36/1000 live births. Two patients had idiopathic infantile spasm and nine patients (82%) were symptomatic. A positive family history of epilepsy was found in 27% of the patients and Parental consanguinity was found in 45% of the patients. Two patients had cerebral malformation and all the patients had one or more risk factors during pregnancy and delivery-The outcome for the idiopathic group -1 out of the two was normal, and all the patients from the symptomatic group were found to be abnormal at the end of the follow-up. Seizures were controlled in six of the patients, partially controlled in four, and only one continued to have seizures in spite of treatment.