Benign partial epilepsy in infancy: myth or reality?

Benign partial epilepsy in infancy (BPEI) was first described by Watanabe in 1987. The aim of this study is to describe a series of infants from the United States to characterize this entity further.

Among patients with the diagnosis of epilepsy followed up at our institution between 2002 and 2004, those satisfying the criteria for BPEI were included in a retrospective study.

Sixteen (10.2%) of 150 patients with new onset of epilepsy younger than 2 years were identified. The mean age at seizure onset was 8 months. Four (25%) infants had a family history of benign seizures. All infants were neurologically and developmentally normal at the onset of seizures. The seizures occurred in clusters in 75% of patients, predominantly in wakefulness. The initial manifestation was behavioral arrest with staring (69%) and apnea with cyanosis or pallor (37.5%). These symptoms were followed by deviation of eyes or head or both (56%), mild clonic movements (31%), or increased limb tone (35%). Secondary generalization was noticed in 37.5% of patients. All infants had normal interictal EEGs and brain MRIs. Ictal EEGs disclosed electrographic seizures in 50% of patients (temporal origin in 62% and central in 38%). Fifteen (94%) patients were treated with AEDs with good response. The mean duration of treatment was 12.4 months. The final developmental assessment of all patients was normal.

We believe that BPEI exists as a unique entity and should be included in the differential diagnosis of epilepsies in infancy with partial origin.