An epileptic syndrome characterized by the triad of infantile spasms, hypsarrhythmia, and arrest of psychomotor development at seizure onset. The majority present between 3-12 months of age, with spasms consisting of combinations of brief flexor or extensor movements of the head, trunk, and limbs. The condition is divided into two forms: cryptogenic (idiopathic) and symptomatic (secondary to a known disease process such as intrauterine infections; nervous system abnormalities; BRAIN DISEASES, METABOLIC, INBORN; prematurity; perinatal asphyxia; TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS; etc.). (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, pp744-8)
Also Known As:
West Syndrome; Lightning Attack; Infantile Spasm; Spasmus Nutans; Spasms, Infantile; Cryptogenic West Syndrome; Lightning Attacks; Salaam Attacks; Symptomatic West Syndrome; Attack, Lightning; Attacks, Lightning; Attacks, Salaam; Cryptogenic Infantile Spasm; Hypsarrhythmias; Infantile Spasm, Cryptogenic; Infantile Spasm, Symptomatic; Infantile Spasms, Cryptogenic; Infantile Spasms, Symptomatic; Jackknife Seizure; Nodding Spasms; Seizure, Jackknife; Seizures, Jackknife; Seizures, Salaam; Spasm, Cryptogenic Infantile; Spasm, Nodding; Spasm, Symptomatic Infantile; Spasms, Cryptogenic Infantile; Spasms, Nodding; Spasms, Symptomatic Infantile; Symptomatic Infantile Spasm; Syndrome, Cryptogenic West; Syndrome, Symptomatic West; Syndrome, West; West Syndrome, Cryptogenic; West Syndrome, Symptomatic; Cryptogenic Infantile Spasms; Hypsarrhythmia; Jackknife Seizures; Nodding Spasm; Salaam Seizures; Symptomatic Infantile Spasms