Benign familial neonatal convulsions.

A pedigree of so-called benign familial neonatal convulsions was reported. Nine members experienced convulsions in the neonatal period and/or in early infancy. All members except one had good prognosis. One member had mild mental retardation and epilepsy with rolandic EEG foci. It was suggested that some common genetic factors may be involved in the etiology of benign familial neonatal convulsions, convulsions of unknown etiology in infancy (Fukuyama) and epilepsy with rolandic EEG foci. A review of literature revealed that about 14% of cases with benign familial neonatal convulsions eventually developed epilepsy.