Transient paroxysmal dystonia in infancy.

A group of nine patients with paroxysmal non epileptic motor disorders, with onset in the first year of life, is presented. The characteristics of the attacks define them as paroxysmal dystonia. The progression of the symptoms showed a spontaneous remission in a short length of time (6-22 months) in most infants. In two of them the symptoms persist, showing, however, a progressive decrease. All the laboratory tests were normal. None of the subjects revealed neurological signs and psychomotor development was normal. A likely correlation between transient early-childhood paroxysmal dystonia and developmental processes is discussed.