Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME): report of 12 cases

ABSTRACT

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is an idiopathic generalized epilepsy with age-related onset and characterized by myoclonic seizures, sometimes associated with other seizure types. We present the clinical and EEG characteristics of 12 cases out of 1,700 epileptic patients followed in the Epilepsy Section of a University Hospital. The mean age of seizure onset was 12.3 + 3.2 years (range 7-17), 8 females, 4 males; myoclonic and tonic-clonic generalized seizures were predominant (83.3 per cent). The circadian distribution of seizures was observed in 83.3 per cent (10/12). The complete seizure control occurred in 66.6 per cent (8/12) after valproate monotherapy. There was a positive family history of epilepsy in 50.0 per cent (6/12). In 50.0 per cent (6/12) of the cases the paroxysmal activity was precipitated by hyperventilation. Surprisingly we did not observe any pattern of photosensitivity in the interictal EEG recordings.