The clinical challenge of progressive myoclonus epilepsy.
Health care providers who care for patients with seizure disorders should be able to recognize progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Progressive myoclonus epilepsy is a syndrome confused with myoclonic seizures and other epilepsies. The main symptom is myoclonus, a brief involuntary muscle jerk of varying intensity that can throw a patient against a wall or to the ground. This article describes major types of progressive myoclonus epilepsy, a typical case presentation and two clinical drug trials available for these patients. The focus of clinical drug trials is to identify a drug that controls the myoclonus and improves the quality of life for the affected individual. There is no cure for patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy. 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and piracetam are two drugs available through clinical-research protocols to patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy.
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Children's National Medical Center, Department of Neurology Research, Washington, D.C.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010889:Piracetam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D010889:Piracetam