Author/Authors :
ABBASKHANIAN، Ali نويسنده Pediatric Neurologist, Assistant Professor, Booali Sina Hospital, , Mazandaran, Iran , , EHTESHAMI، Sara نويسنده General Practitioner, Education Development Center, , Mazandaran, Iran , , SAJJADI، Sadegh نويسنده Pediatrician, Mazandaran, Iran , , REZAI، Mohammad Sadegh نويسنده Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Booali Sina Hospital, ,
Abstract :
Breath holding spells (BHS) are common paroxysmal non-epileptic events
in the pediatric population which are very stressfull despite their harmless
nature. There has been no specific treatment found for the spells yet. The aim
of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of piracetam (2-oxo-l-pyrrolidine)
on these children.
Materials & Methods
In this randomized double blind clinical trial study, 150 children with severe
BHS referred to our pediatric outpatient service were enrolled from August
2011 to July 2012. The patients were randomized into two equal groups.
One received 40mg/kg/day piracetam and the other group received placebo,
twice daily. Patients were followed monthly for three months. The number
of attacks/month before and after treatment were documented.
Results
Of the enrolled patients, 86 were boys. The mean age of the patients was
17 months (range, 6 to 24 months). In the piracetam group, 1 month after
treatment an 81% response to treatment was found. In the placebo group,
none of the patients had complete remission and 7% of the cases had partial
remission. Overall, control of breath-holding spells was observed in 91% of
the patients in the group taking piracetam as compared with 16% in the group
taking placebo at the end of the study. There was no significant difference
detected between the groups regarding the prevalence of drug side effects.
Conclusion
A significant difference was detected between piracetam and placebo in
prevention and controlling BHS. Piracetam (40mg/kg/day) had a good effect
on our patients.