The nature of neonatal status epilepticus--a clinician's perspective

Neonatal status epilepticus occurs within the substrate of the hyperexcitable newborn brain and is usually provoked by acute CNS derangements, although status can also be the presentation of early-life epilepsy. Provoked neonatal status usually resolves within a few days, with or without treatment, but new data suggests that status is associated with adverse outcomes, even after controlling for underlying disease severity and MRI structural brain injury. Novel treatments may be needed to improve seizure control and outcome, given the characteristics of neurotransmission in the newborn brain. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".