title: Electroencephalographic features of benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate electroencephalographic (EEG) features of benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy (BAFME).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed interictal EEG features in patients with BAFME treated between April 2005 and November 2012 at a tertiary referral center. The diagnostic criteria for BAFME were the presence of infrequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonus or myoclonic seizures, and autosomal dominant inheritance. Interictal EEG findings of epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizure only (EGTCS) were reviewed for comparison. We randomly selected 10 generalized spike/polyspike and wave complexes (GSW) for each BAFME patient and measured the duration of them. Photic stimulation and hyperventilation were performed in all.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen (eight men, 11 women) patients with BAFME were included in this study. The mean frequency of GSW was 4.3±1.0Hz (mean±SD, n=14) in BAFME and 3.2±0.8Hz (n=10) in EGTCS. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.008) between the two. Photoparoxysmal responses (PPR) were noted in 18 (95%) patients with BAFME but 1 (10%) with EGTCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Faster frequency of GSW, compared with that in EGTCS, accompanied by PPR may be characteristic EEG features of BAFME.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may lead the diagnosis of BAFME.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan. Electronic address: toyotomo@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyota
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science Technology, International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka School of Health and Welfare, Okawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadatoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wakamatsu Hospital of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uozumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy with generalized tonic–clonic seizure only; Generalized spike and wave complexes