Benign Familial Neonatal Seizures

Abstract

• Five family members in three successive generations experienced convulsions as newborns. One died during a cyanotic spell. The remaining four are developmentally and neurologically normal, although three continue to have seizure disorders as adults. No underlying inborn error of metabolism has been identified. This family appears to have a familial epilepsy beginning at birth that is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait.