title: Assessment of Blink Reflex in Genetic Generalized Epilepsy Patients With Eyelid Myoclonia.
abstract: Eyelid myoclonia (EM) with or without absences are a rare type of generalized seizures associated with a variety of epilepsy syndromes with an unknown pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of the brainstem structures in this underrecognized special type of seizures. Sixteen consecutive patients with EM, diagnosed with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) according to International League Against Epilepsy 2010 criteria were included. Brainstem excitabilities were examined by blink reflex (BR) studies. The results of BR studies in GGE patients with EM were statistically compared with 2 control groups; namely age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients without any absences and using similar antiepileptic drugs. There were no statistical differences between the thresholds of the BR studies and the BR recovery curves in terms of amplitudes and areas of healthy subjects, JME patients and GGE patients with EM. Our findings do not support a profound interictal hyperexcitability in the BR-related brainstem structures of the GGE patients with EM. It can be considered that EM may be associated with excitability changes of the occipital cortex and other cortical areas.
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güneş
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altıokka-Uzun
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esme
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekizoğlu
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocasoy-Orhan
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nerses
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bebek
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Candan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gürses
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gökyiğit
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Emre
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Öge
authors.affiliation: 1 Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Betül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baykan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: blink reflex; brainstem; eyelid myoclonia; genetic generalized epilepsy; pathophysiology