Reflex epilepsy induced by playing Mah-jong:14 cases report / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyse clinical characteristics of patients with epilepsy induced by playing Mah-jong.Methods The medical records of 14 epileptic patients who were admitted at the Epilepsy Center of PUMC Hospital chief complaint of Mah-jong induced epileptic seizures from 1996 to 2000 were retrospectively reviewed.Results 12 patients showed generalized tonic-clonic seizures and 2 patients showed partial seizures with secondary generalization. Interictally, normal EEG were found in 13 patients, and one patient was discharged. None patients recept anticonvulsant therapy for preventing seizures. Conclusion Mah-jong induced epilepsy, a reflex epilepsy, is probably related to thinking,spatial task and decision making while playing mah-jong. It is benign, and could be easily prevented by stopping playing Mah-jong.