Pyknoleptic petit mal

Abstract

Pyknoleptic petit mal is a childhood epilepsy syndrome characterized by frequent absence seizures and a specific EEG pattern. The EEG trait is dominantly inherited. It represents the paradigm of primary generalized epilepsy with cortico-reticular participation. The clinical features include disturbances of awareness and/or responsiveness and frequently associated events such as mild clonic components, postural changes and automatisms. Treatment is usually successful in eliminating seizures and the prognosis is favorable for terminal remission though generalized tonic-clonic seizures may ensue.