title: Focal EEG features and therapeutic response in patients with juvenile absence and myoclonic epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the characteristics of focal EEG features in patients with juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and to assess their possible influence on therapeutic response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focal EEG features were prospectively scored in 168 consecutive patients. Ninety-six patients were drug-naïve and 72 patients were already on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs): 38 on adequate medication and 34 on inadequate medication. Therapeutic response was assessed one year after starting adequate therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred-eighteen patients (70.2%) had focal EEG features: 89 patients (53%) had focal epileptiform discharges, and 80 patients (47.6%) had focal slowing. Most often, these were multifocal and localized in frontal and temporal regions. Among patients already on AEDs, patients with focal EEG features were more often treated with inadequate medication due to misdiagnosis, than patients without focal features. Data on therapeutic response were available for 118 patients; most of them (90.7%) were seizure free. None of the focal EEG features affected therapeutic response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focal EEG features are common in patients with JME and JAE, but they do not influence the therapeutic response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that physicians are aware of the focal EEG features in order to avoid misdiagnosis and inadequate therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Tbilisi, Georgia. Electronic address: gjaparidze58@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giorgi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Japaridze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasradze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Giorgi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lomidze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Lali
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhizhiashvili
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kvernadze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Kakha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geladze
authors.affiliation: Danish Epilepsy Centre, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Dianalund, Denmark; Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address: sbz@filadelfia.dk.
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beniczky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020190:Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Focal EEG features; Juvenile absence epilepsy; Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy; Therapeutic response