The First Korean Case of KCNQ2 Mutation in a Family with Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions

Neonatal seizures represent a heterogeneous group of disorders with vastly different etiologies and outcomes. Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) are a distinctive epileptic syndrome of autosomal dominant inheritance with a favorable prognosis, characterized by the occurrence of unprovoked partial or generalized clonic seizures in the neonatal period or early infancy. Recently, mutations in two potassium channel genes, KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, have been described in this disorder. In this report, we describe a family with BFNC due to a KCNQ2 mutation, the first such family to be described in the Korean population. The diagnosis of BFNC can be made based on clinical suspicion and careful history taking with special emphasis on the familial nature of the disorder. KCNQ2 mutations may be associated with BFNC in a number of different races, as has been reported in other ethnic groups.

Seizures in the newborn.

Seizures in the newborn period constitute a medical emergency. Subtle seizures are the commonest type of neonatal seizures, other types being clonic, tonic, and myoclonic. Myoclonic seizures carry the worst prognosis in terms of long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is the most common cause of neonatal seizures. Multiple etiologies often co-exist in neonates and hence it is essential to rule out conditions such as hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, and meningitis before initiating specific therapy. A comprehensive approach for management of neonatal seizures has been described.