Focal clinical and electroencephalographic features in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Abstract

To identify prevalence and factors associated with occurrence of focal clinical and electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Clinical asymmetries in the seizures and focal EEG abnormalities were analyzed in 266 patients with JME. All the patients had myoclonic jerks (MJ) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS); 56 (21%) had absence seizures. Asymmetry in clinical seizures was reported in 45 (16.9%) and focal EEG abnormalities were noted in 92 (45.5%) patients. Amplitude asymmetry or focal onset of generalized discharges was noted in 41 (44.6%) and independent focal EEG abnormalities in 30 (32.6%) patients. A statistically significant association was seen with the presence of GTCS and MJ (P = 0.007), a family history of epilepsy (P = 0.001) and drug resistance (P = 0.04) and the occurrence of focal EEG abnormalities. Patients with JME showed focal clinical and EEG features. These features should not be misinterpreted as indicative of partial epilepsy.