The aims of this study were to investigate the long-term outcomes in children with infantile spasms (IS) and to identify the prognostic factors influencing their neurodevelopment.

We retrospectively evaluated seventy two children over five years old who were treated for IS at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, between 1994 and 2007. Forty-three children were contacted by telephone or medical follow-up to assess their current neurodevelopmental status. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CIs) of risk factors for unfavorable outcomes.

The mean follow-up duration for these 43 children was 7.2±1.5 years (range, 4.5 to 13.0 years). Of these, 13 (30.2%) had cryptogenic and 30 (69.8%) had symptomatic IS. Eleven (25.6%) children were initially treated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) therapy, with a mean treatment lag of 1.3±1.9 months (range; 0.1 to 7.0 months). Eighteen (41.8%) children clinically responded to initial treatment, as shown by EEG response. Overall, 22 (51.2%) children had at least moderate neurodevelopmental disorders and 2 (4.8%) died. In univariate analysis, etiology (symptomatic) and poor electroclinical response to initial treatment were related to long-term unfavorable outcomes. In multivariate analysis, response to primary treatment was the sole significant independent risk factor with a high OR.

Overall prognosis of children with IS was poor. Electroclinical non-responsiveness to initial treatment was related to unfavorable long-term outcomes, indicating that initial control of seizures may be important in reducing the likelihood of poor neurodevelopment.