Affiliations: Department of Medicine, Division of Pediatrics,
University of Chieti, Italy | Division of Pediatrics, Perrino Hospital Azienda
Ospedaliera A. Di Summa, Brindisi, Italy | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera
Universitaria Senese, Siena. Italy
Note: [] Correspondence: Prof. Alberto Verrotti, Department of Medicine,
Section of Pediatrics University of Chieti – Ospedale Policlinico, Via dei
Vestini 5 66100 Chieti, Italy. Fax: +39-871-574831. E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Seizures are very frequent in neonatal period. A seizure is an
abrupt alteration in neurological function of the newborn and it can be due to
many different causes. There are new pathogenetic hypothesis that try to
clarify the mechanism of neonatal sizures. Leaving aside new four classical
types of neonatal seizures (subtle, clonic, tonic, myoclonic), new clinical
forms have been recently identified: benign idiopathic neonatal convulsion
(fifth day fist), benign familial neonatal convulsion, early epileptic
encephalopathy with suppression burst (Ohtahara syndrome); early myoclonic
epileptic encephalopathy. Finally, there are some open issues about the
treatment and the prognosis of neonatal seizures. This review summarizes
current knowledge regarding pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis of
neonatal seizures. (J Pediatr Neurol 2004; 2(4): 191–197).
