title: Eyelid myoclonia with absences (Jeavons syndrome): a well-defined idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndrome or a spectrum of photosensitive conditions?
abstract: Eyelid myoclonia with absences (EMA), or Jeavons syndrome, is a generalized epileptic condition clinically characterized by eyelid myoclonia (EM) with or without absences, eye closure-induced electroencephalography (EEG) paroxysms, and photosensitivity; in addition, rare tonic-clonic seizures may also occur. Although first described in 1977 and widely reported by several authors within the last few years, EMA has not been yet recognized as a definite epileptic syndrome. However, when strict criteria are applied to the diagnosis, EMA appears to be a distinctive condition that could be considered a myoclonic epileptic syndrome, with myoclonia limited to the eyelids, rather than an epileptic syndrome with absences.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy. sstriano@libero.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Striano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capovilla
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sofia
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubboli
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Striano
authors.forename: Dorothée Kasteleijn-Nolst
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Trenité
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000150:complications*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020195:Epilepsy, Reflex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*