BILATERAL TONIC-CLONIC EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN NON-BENIGN FAMILIAL NEONATAL CONVULSIONS

We report an electroclinical pattern considered characteristic of beni gn familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) in two neonates without BFNC. Both neonates were products of uncomplicated pregnancies, labor, and d eliveries. The cause of the seizures was not established. There was no family history of seizures or epilepsy, Seizures started on the secon d and third days after birth. Ten seizures were captured by continuous video-EEG telemetry, The electroclinical events began with generalize d tonic posturing coinciding with the appearance of diffuse attenuatio n of the EEG activity, After several seconds, bilateral clonic movemen ts accompanied by bilateral repetitive sharp waves or spikes occurred in the EEG. One patient had normal development; the other became autis tic, We conclude that the electroclinical pattern occurring in BFNC ca rl occur in other types of neonatal seizures. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Sci ence Inc.