Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus: clinical features and video-polygraphic recordings

Mov Disord. 1993 Apr;8(2):191-4. doi: 10.1002/mds.870080213.

Abstract

Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus is a syndrome characterized by the occurrence of repetitive myoclonic jerks of the extremities exclusively during non-rapid eye movement sleep in the early life of healthy newborns. No etiological factors are present. The onset is within the first 15 days of life with spontaneous disappearance within 3-4 months. These myoclonic events are commonly diagnosed as epileptic seizures. We observed 12 newborns with this clinical pattern; the follow-up ranges from 12 to 60 months. Long-term videopolygraphic electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring demonstrated normal EEG activity, thus confirming that these unusual events were nonepileptic.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Polysomnography*
  • Reference Values
  • Sleep Stages / physiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / physiopathology
  • Video Recording*
  • Wakefulness / physiology