Clobazam in epilepsy.

Clobazam, an anxiolytic agent has proved to be a broad spectrum antiepileptic. It is effective and well tolerated. It has been mainly used as an adjunctive therapy with other antiepileptic agents without much side effects. It is also recommended as monotherapy for partial and selected epilepsies in childhood.

Spinal muscular atrophy--a clinicopathologic analysis.

In this retrospective study the clinical features in 16 children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) were reviewed and classified into three stages. The muscle biopsy specimen were routinely processed with liquid-nitrogen-isopentane and 8 micron thick frozen-sections were studied for histochemical changes. The clinical features in Type III SMA resembled with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and the muscle biopsy was useful in distinguishing these two entities. It is being evaluated that prenatal diagnosis of SMA is possible with DNA technology developed recently in our country.

Myasthenia gravis.

Twelve children with myasthenic symptoms were seen over a period of 6 years. The age of onset of symptoms ranged from 6 months to 9 years. On followup for a mean period of 4.25 years, (longest followup was 9 years) five children went into complete remission of symptoms after treatment with prostigmine; three children responded to prostigmine and steroids; two children were relieved of symptoms without prolonged treatment and the remaining two children could not be followed up. Thymectomy was not advised in any patient.