title: Myoclonic epilepsy--pitfalls in diagnosis and management.
abstract: Three cases of myoclonic epilepsy presenting in adolescence are described. Seizures were uninfluenced by treatment with carbamazepine. Substitution of sodium valproate in early adult life resulted in all becoming seizure-free. A high degree of clinical awareness is required in making the correct diagnosis and in choosing appropriate therapy for this form of epilepsy which can present with generalised tonic-clonic or partial seizures.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McGinn
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid