title: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: clinical and EEG features.
abstract: We aimed to characterize the clinical profile and EEG features of 43 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. In a retrospective design we studied the records of, and re-interviewed, 43 patients diagnosed with JME from the epilepsy clinic data base. Furthermore, available EEGs were re-evaluated. Of the patients 72% were female and 28% male. Average age of onset was 13 (5.5-22) years for absences, 16 (5.2-25) years for myoclonic seizures, and 16 (8-29) years for generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Forty-two percent reported asymmetric or unilateral myoclonic jerks. Commonly reported precipitating factors were sleep deprivation (84%), stress (70%), and alcohol consumption (51%). EEG findings included rapid spike-wave and polyspike-wave.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015985:Precipitating Factors; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome