New approach to etiology factors in treatment of neonatal seizures

Abstract

Neonatal convulsions are a very alarming and in the most cases the only manifestation of an underlying neural disorder. Seizures occur in 3.5-4.4/1000 live births. Convulsions in the immature brain can cause irreversible changes to the synapsis and can cause progress of convulsions. According to clinical manifestations, EEG changes and outcome, disorders are divided into benign and severe epileptic syndromes. Seizures may also be caused by genetic disorders, several of which are benign, familial, and caused by channelopathies involving potassium channels. Convulsions caused by these disorders are often pharmaco resistant to antiepileptic therapy. This review also discusses epileptic syndromes seen in neonates, including early myoclonic encephalopathy and Ohtahara syndrome. Early diagnosis of these disorders is important for detecting structural brain changes which have a genetic cause and need specific treatment.