Benign familial neonatal seizures: clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics

Two families with benign familial neonatal seizures evident over three generations are presented with emphasis on clinical and electroencephalographic features. Benign familial neonatal seizures represent a disorder with the onset of frequent generalized seizures during the first weeks of life. Family history reveals autosomal dominant inheritance of this disorder. The neonates are neurologically normal and outcomes are usually benign. In our families, none of the patients had seizures after the first ten months of life, with long-term follow-up ranging from 10 months to 56 years. The use of antiepileptic medication seems to have little effect on course or eventual outcome. The electroencephalograms, both initially and subsequently, ranged from normal to epileptiform and did not correlate with risk for further seizures in infancy or subsequent epilepsy. Benign familial neonatal seizures are a distinct clinical entity whose key features and favorable prognosis should be appreciated by all those caring for sick neonates. This recognition would result in an early diagnosis and conservative treatment.