2021 Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 106-112
Vigabatrin is one of the first-line interventions in infantile spasms. Vigabatrin irreversibly inhibits GABA transaminase, resulting in an increase in the GABA concentration in the brain. Vigabatrin-associated brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (VABAM) show abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to the administration of vigabatrin. VABAM shows MRI signal changes in thalami, basal ganglia, brainstem tegmentum, and cerebella nuclei on T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images. These changes improve with drug reduction or discontinuation.
We herein report two cases with typical presentation of VABAM.
Case 1. A 2-month-old infant who was diagnosed with infantile spasms underwent vigabatrin and ACTH therapy. One month later, a follow-up MRI showed abnormalities in substantia nigra and globus pallidus on T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images.
Case 2. A 6-month-old infant with tuberous sclerosis complex was treated with vigabatrin. A follow-up MRI showed signal changes on diffusion-weighted images.
No clinical symptoms were found in either case 1 or case 2.
