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A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy
Published on: November 3, 2016
Epileptic and non-epileptic paroxysmal motor phenomena in newborns
Carlotta Facini1, Carlotta Spagnoli1, Francesco Pisani1
1a Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to provide an extensive overview of the clinical features of neonatal paroxysmal motor phenomena, both self-limited, related to the immaturity of the central nervous system, and pathological (epileptic and non-epileptic), in order to help the diagnostic approach.
Methods:
We reviewed the scientific literature about epileptic and non-epileptic paroxysmal motor phenomena in newborns.
Results:
Paroxysmal motor phenomena in newborns represent a challenge for the clinicians due to the different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. A proper differential diagnosis is required.
Conclusions:
There are some clinical features that may help clinicians with the differentiation among physiological and pathological, epileptic, and non-epileptic events. However, further investigations are often needed to identify the cause. A continuous synchronized video-electroencephalogram (EEG)-recording, interpreted by an expert in neonatal neurology, remains the gold standard to prove the epileptic origin of a paroxysmal motor phenomenon.
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