TRANSIENT FOCAL CORTICAL HYPOMETABOLISM IN IDIOPATHIC WEST SYNDROME

Positron emission tomography (PET) using F-18-labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucos e was performed serially in 5 infants with idiopathic West syndrome. W hile tonic spasms persisted, 2 infants had hypometabolism in the bilat eral temporo-parieto-occipital regions, which disappeared after cessat ion of spasms. In 2 other infants, PET revealed focal hypometabolism i n the temporal region a few months after the disappearance of tonic sp asms, but subsequent PET studies were normal. PET can detect transient metabolic abnormalities of the cerebral cortex which may be associate d with the pathophysiology of West syndrome.