This is a very rare epilepsy syndrome. Seizures start before 3 months of age. Many babies have an underlying structural brain abnormality or a metabolic (biochemical) disorder. This may be genetic in origin (passed on through the genes), or happen because of brain damage before or around the time of birth. A number of gene abnormalities, called mutations, may also cause Ohtahara syndrome. These include STXBP1, ARX, CDKL5 and PNKP. Other mutations will almost certainly be found in the future. However, no cause will be found in some infants.

It is one of the group of severe epilepsy syndromes that start in the first year of life and are called the ‘Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies’.

This syndrome is quite similar to another developmental and epileptic encephalopathy called ‘Early myoclonic encephalopathy’.

Other names for Ohtahara syndrome

•Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) with burst-suppression

Symptoms

Seizures usually start in the…