[Benign reflex myoclonic epilepsy in infants].

BACKGROUND: Myoclonic epilepsy of infancy are seldom benign.

CASE REPORT: A 25-month old girl developed myoclonic jerks either spontaneously either as reflex responses to auditory and tactile stimuli, such as sudden touching of the face or trunk from the age of 4 months. The jerks disappeared after valproate therapy. Neurological examination was normal with a follow-up of 9 months.

CONCLUSION: This condition resembles that described in 1995 by Ricci et al. In must be differentiated from other myoclonic epilepsies of infancy, reflex epilepsies and hyperekplexia. It could be the earliest from of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.