BENIGN PARTIAL EPILEPSY WITH SECONDARILY GENERALIZED SEIZURES IN INFANCY

Seven infants with benign idiopathic partial epilepsy presented with a pparently generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCs) which proved to be partial seizures evolving to secondarily generalized seizures. All wer e easily controlled with phenobarbital (PB) or carbamazepine (CBZ), an d remained seizure-free >3 years even after discontinuation of medicat ion, and had a normal developmental outcome. The initial seizure manif estation consisting of motion arrest, staring or blank eyes, or crying associated with focal paroxysmal discharges was followed by GTCs in a ccordance with generalization of paroxysmal discharges. Four infants h ad a family history of benign type of childhood convulsions. The term ''benign partial epilepsy in infancy'' is proposed to combine this syn drome with the previously described benign infantile epilepsy with com plex partial seizures.