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Eight infants born at term in the years 1974–76, with neonatal convulsions due to severe perinatal asphyxia, were treated for 6–11 days with continuous intravenous infusion of diazepam. Doses of 1.0–1.5 mg per hour (mgh) were usually required to stop the convulsions. In one infant 2.75 mgh was needed. During the treatment, all infants had measurable serum concentrations of diazepam, half of them above 35 μol1. The convulsions stopped in all eight infants, and did not return after discontinuation of the infusion. Side-effects were noted in all infants, but they were all able to breathe adequately. At follow-up the psychomotor development was normal in all cases and there were no signs of neurological disorders, except in one patient, in whom mild epilepsy was observed.Continuous infusion of diazepam should be given in doses of at least 1 mgh (corresponding to around 0.3 mgkg h) to stop convulsions in full-term infants efficiently and should be increased under close supervision and with monitoring of respiration and heart rate until treatment is effective.

The administration of selenium and vitamin E was tried in a group of 20 boys with muscular dystrophy. Muscular strength was measured at intervals of 6 months. The boys were treated for 1 year (selenium 6 μg/kg for 6 months and 20 μg/kg for 6 months), followed by 1 year of no treatment. The whole series was completed in 16 boys, nine of whom had classical Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the rest who had more benign variants. No boy showed any side effects. The decrease of muscle strength was slightly more rapid during the second year (no treatment) than during the first year (with treatment) of the trial. The difference was, however, slight and could conceivably be explained by the increase of age. No boy showed any practically usable increase of muscle strength during the year of treatment. The minimal muscle strength required for walking is presented. (J Child Neurol1986;1:211-214)