Circadian changes of heart rate in West syndrome

Patterns of circadian and ultradian rhythms in the heart rate (HR) are desc ribed in a full-term baby with birth asphyxia and convulsions. A 24h HR rec ording was carried out at the age of 1, 15, 56, 289, and 295 days; West syn drome diagnosis was made when the patient was 3 months old. The HR showed n o circadian rhythm in the follow-up, whereas it is known that the circadian rhythm appears in healthy infants at the age of 1 month and remains therea fter. This observation may be an indirect indicator of the interference of West syndrome with centers of neurological maturity.