A Simple Maneuver to Provoke Benign Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus

Abstract

Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus (BNSM) is characterized by: (1) neonatal onset, (2) myoclonic jerks occurring only during sleep, (3) abrupt and consistent cessation with arousal, (4) absence of concomitant electroencephalographic seizures, and (5) good outcome.1 The myoclonic jerks may be partial, multifocal, or generalized,1-11 with a frequency of 1 to 15 per second,1,3,9 and they do not stop with restraint.12 BNSM occurs in neurologically healthy neonates, usually disappears before 6 months of age, 2-7,9 and requires no treatment.1-11 Antiepileptic drugs are not effective in BNSM.1-11 Nevertheless, 35% of reported neonates with BNSM were treated with antiepileptic drugs before establishing the correct diagnosis.1-11