title: Long-term evolution of EEG in Unverricht-Lundborg disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the EEG characteristics of patients with Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD) and their changes during the long-term evolution of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study including all patients with ULD confirmed by molecular biology and more than 15 years' duration of disease progression at the time of inclusion. EEGs were recorded at inclusion, 2 years and 5 years of follow-up. Patients who discontinued treatment during follow-up had an EEG monitoring 1 year after reintroduction of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven EEGs were performed in 17 patients. The mean age at onset was 12.0±5.5 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 26.5±6.9 years. The average background rhythm was 8.2 c/s, and was normal in 30 EEGs (64%), slow in 17 (36%) and disorganized in 11 (23%). Epileptic abnormalities were found in 22 EEGs (47%). Myoclonic jerks were found in 13 EEGs (28%). After re-adaptation of antiepileptic medication in patients who had previously stopped treatment, control EEG showed a normal background rhythm with no epileptic abnormalities throughout the monitoring period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the progressive disappearance of EEG abnormalities is rather due to antiepileptic treatment than a gradual spontaneous tendency to decrease over time.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculté de médecine de Tunis, université El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gargouri-Berrechid
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasri
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculté de médecine de Tunis, université El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kacem
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculté de médecine de Tunis, université El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sidhom
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Istabrak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abdelkefi
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Yosr
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hizem
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculté de médecine de Tunis, université El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Djebrara
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, UR 12SP21, CHU Razi, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculté de médecine de Tunis, université El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: riadh.gouider@gnet.tn.
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gouider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020194:Unverricht-Lundborg Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Electroencephalography; Epilepsy; Long-term evolution; Maladie d’Unverricht-Lundborg; Myoclonie; Myoclonus; Unverricht-Lundborg disease; Électroencéphalographie; Épilepsie; Évolution à long terme