title: [Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a generalised epilepsy with seizure onset in youth. The aim of this review is to present updated knowledge about the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of JME.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review is based on a judicious selection of original English language articles, meta-analyses, and reviews found in PubMed, and the authors' own experience with the patient group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seizure onset occurs in adolescence. All have myoclonias, about 90 % have generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and one third have absences. Myoclonic jerks are frequently the debut symptom, while tonic-clonic seizures appear later on. Patients are particularly susceptible to seizures shortly after waking. It is important to ask specifically about myoclonias as most patients do not report jerks spontaneously. The electroencephalograms of 44-81 % of the patients show discharges of 4-6 Hz polyspike waves. Focal EEG abnormalities may be seen in about 30 %. When patients are treated with valproate and seizure-precipitating factors are avoided, especially sleep deprivation, about 80 % become seizure-free. Lamotrigine and levetiracetam are alternative therapies for women of childbearing age. Attempts to taper off the medication after several years of seizure freedom entail a high risk of seizure relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As there may be features of focal epilepsy in the seizure semiology and/or the EEGs, it may be difficult to diagnose JME. Thus, many patients are misdiagnosed as having a focal epilepsy and are given antiepileptic drugs that may aggravate the tendency to seizures.
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling, Drammen sykehus, Norway. marsyv@vestreviken.no
authors.forename: Marte Roa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Syvertsen
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Markhus
authors.forename: Kaja Kristine
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Selmer
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Nakken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D020190:Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000175:diagnosis; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D010889:Piracetam