Benign Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus

Myoclonic jerks may be a benign condition if occurring in otherwise healthy newborns as they fall asleep. The authors discuss the pathophysiology and clinical picture of myoclonus in newborns and infants. They report on a newborn with benign nocturnal myoclonus who was subjected to unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures because of inaccurate specification of myoclonic jerks. The authors stress the need for early recognition of this benign syndrome, which tends to clear spontaneously and has an excellent prognosis.