Electroencephalographic findings in asymptomatic relatives of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: relationship with the degree of kinship.

Abstract

A prevalence of 1 to 71% of electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities has been reported in asymptomatic relatives of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). To determine the frequency of EEG abnormalities in asymptomatic relatives of patients with JME according to the degree of kinship. Prospective, analytical study. First-, second, and third-degree relatives of patients with JME who agreed to participate and signed informed consent were included. The analysis was descriptive, bivariate. 209 asymptomatic relatives were included, out of which 115 (55%) were females and 94 (45%) were males, with a mean age of 35.9 ± 16.9 (range between 6 and 73 years). Forty-four (21.1%) relatives had abnormal EEGs. First-degree relatives (12%) had abnormalities more frequently in comparison with second- and third-degree relatives (p = 0.007). EEG abnormalities were observed in one third of asymptomatic relatives. It is important to highlight that there were more alterations among first-degree relatives. In the future, these findings might enable for the risk of clinically developing the disease to be estimated and for genetic counseling to be provided.