Abstract
BackgroundBy definition, the background EEG is normal in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients and not accompanied by other developmental and cognitive problems. However, some recent studies using quantitative EEG (qEEG) reported abnormal changes in the background activity. QEEG investigation in patients undergoing anticonvulsant treatment might be a useful approach to explore the electrophysiology and anticonvulsant effects in JME.MethodsWe investigated background EEG activity changes in patients undergoing valproic acid (VPA) treatment using qEEG analysis in a distributed source model. In 17 children with JME, non-parametric statistical analysis using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography was performed to compare the current density distribution of four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) between untreated and treated conditions.ResultsVPA reduced background EEG activity in the low-frequency (delta-theta) bands across the frontal, parieto-occipital, and limbic lobes (threshold log-F-ratio = ±1.414, p < 0.05; threshold log-F-ratio= ±1.465, p < 0.01). In the delta band, comparative analysis revealed significant current density differences in the occipital, parietal, and limbic lobes. In the theta band, the analysis revealed significant differences in the frontal, occipital, and limbic lobes. The maximal difference was found in the delta band in the cuneus of the left occipital lobe (log-F-ratio = −1.840) and the theta band in the medial frontal gyrus of the left frontal lobe (log-F-ratio = −1.610).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the anticonvulsant effects on the neural networks involved in JME. In addition, these findings suggested the focal features and the possibility of functional deficits in patients with JME.
Highlights
By definition, the background EEG is normal in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients and not accompanied by other developmental and cognitive problems
The diagnosis of Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) was based on the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification [20]
Our results showed that Valproic acid (VPA) significantly decreased the background EEG activity in low-frequency bands across the frontal, parieto-occipital, and limbic lobes
Summary
The background EEG is normal in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) patients and not accompanied by other developmental and cognitive problems. Some recent studies using quantitative EEG (qEEG) reported abnormal changes in the background activity. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is the most common and well-defined generalized epilepsy syndrome. It usually begins in adolescence, with a peak onset between 12 and 18 years [1, 2]. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures often occur, and one-third of. Valproic acid (VPA) is the treatment drug of choice and effectively controlled all seizures in about 80 – 90% of the patients [3, 4]
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