Benign familial neonatal epilepsy

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Wusthoff, Courtney J.^;

Affiliations: Division of Neonatology, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Courtney J. Wusthoff, Division of Neonatology, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare Trust, 5th Floor Hammersmith House, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK. Tel.: +44 203 313 8515; Fax: +44 203 313 1122; E-mail: Courtney.wusthoff@imperial.ac.uk.

Abstract: Benign familial neonatal epilepsy (BFNE), previously benign familial neonatal seizures, is a relatively rare epilepsy syndrome arising in newborns. The genetic basis for this syndrome has recently been defined. This review uses a case to illustrate the challenges in the clinical approach to diagnosis in neonatal epilepsy, and gives the clinician a summary of the genetic basis for BFNE. Finally, an overview of counseling and clinical treatment of BFNE is discussed.

Keywords: Newborn infant, neonate, seizures, benign neonatal epilepsy, benign familial neonatal seizures, KCNQ potassium channels

DOI: 10.3233/PEP-2012-024

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 143-149, 2012