[Sultopride, treatment of choice for psychomotor agitation in severe encephalopathy. 33 cases in a neuropediatric milieu].

Thirty-three patients showing a definite group of symptoms including chiefly agitation or self-mutilation often dramatic have been treated with sultopride at doses ranging from 7 to 50 mg/kg/day at the Institut Médico-Pédagogique de l'Enfant-Jésus at Ciney. Forty-eight per cent showing this particular symptoms have been cured or greatly improved with sultopride. In 36% the response was incomplete in that it appeared to be identical with sultopride solely or with the previous medications. An opposite result has been noted in 16% only. Side-effects consisted in extra-pyramidal symptoms, drowsiness and digestive disorders. This study leads to the conclusion that sultopride can be considered as the most efficient therapeutical approach to the management of agitation or self-mutilation in severe encephalopathy.