What is a characteristic pattern in EEG that is seen with infantile spasms?

The characteristic pattern in EEG that is associated with infantile spasms is hypsarrhythmia. This is a highly disorganized and chaotic pattern that is characterized by a mix of high-voltage, irregular waveforms, and a lack of a discernible rhythm. Hypsarrhythmia typically appears during the infant age range and is specifically linked to the condition known as West syndrome, which includes infantile spasms as one of its hallmarks.

This pattern is significant because it indicates severe abnormal brain activity and is often associated with developmental delays and other seizure disorders. The presence of hypsarrhythmia provides clinicians with crucial information for diagnosis and management of the condition.

In contrast, the other listed patterns do not directly correlate with infantile spasms. For example, the normal development pattern typically reflects a more organized EEG seen in healthy infants. Triphasic waves are generally associated with metabolic disturbances or encephalopathy rather than infantile spasms. Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) are indicative of focal seizures or underlying structural brain issues and are not characteristic of the diffuse dysregulation seen in infantile spasms. Therefore, hypsarrhythmia is the correct answer representing the EEG pattern associated with