Seizures in Epilepsy With Eyelid Myoclonia May Be Provoked by Eye Closure, Not Fixation Removal

Abstract

Epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia ([EEM] also known as Jeavons syndrome) is a genetic generalized epilepsy syndrome with onset in childhood or adolescence. 1 Hirsch E. Panayiotopoulos C.P. Childhood absence epilepsy and related syndromes. in: Roger J. Bureau M. Dravet C. Genton P. Tassinari C.A. Wolf P. Epileptic Syndromes in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence. 4th ed. John LibbeyEurotext: Montrouge, France, 2005: 315-336 Google Scholar ,2 International League Against EpilepsyEpilepsyDiagnosis.org. epilepsydiagnosis.orgDate: 2014 Google Scholar Affected individuals experience brief episodes of eyelid myoclonia, typically involving 4 to 6 Hz low-amplitude rhythmic myoclonic jerks of the eyelids. 1 Hirsch E. Panayiotopoulos C.P. Childhood absence epilepsy and related syndromes. in: Roger J. Bureau M. Dravet C. Genton P. Tassinari C.A. Wolf P. Epileptic Syndromes in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence. 4th ed. John LibbeyEurotext: Montrouge, France, 2005: 315-336 Google Scholar ,2 International League Against EpilepsyEpilepsyDiagnosis.org. epilepsydiagnosis.orgDate: 2014 Google Scholar These seizures occur spontaneously but can also be provoked by voluntary eye closure. Typically, patients have hundreds of seizures per day before treatment. 1 Hirsch E. Panayiotopoulos C.P. Childhood absence epilepsy and related syndromes. in: Roger J. Bureau M. Dravet C. Genton P. Tassinari C.A. Wolf P. Epileptic Syndromes in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence. 4th ed. John LibbeyEurotext: Montrouge, France, 2005: 315-336 Google Scholar The events may or may not be associated with impaired awareness, in which case, they are classified as absence seizures with eyelid myoclonia. 1 Hirsch E. Panayiotopoulos C.P. Childhood absence epilepsy and related syndromes. in: Roger J. Bureau M. Dravet C. Genton P. Tassinari C.A. Wolf P. Epileptic Syndromes in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence. 4th ed. John LibbeyEurotext: Montrouge, France, 2005: 315-336 Google Scholar ,2 International League Against EpilepsyEpilepsyDiagnosis.org. epilepsydiagnosis.orgDate: 2014 Google Scholar Other seizure types may also occur, including febrile and afebrile generalized tonic-clonic seizures. 1 Hirsch E. Panayiotopoulos C.P. Childhood absence epilepsy and related syndromes. in: Roger J. Bureau M. Dravet C. Genton P. Tassinari C.A. Wolf P. Epileptic Syndromes in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence. 4th ed. John LibbeyEurotext: Montrouge, France, 2005: 315-336 Google Scholar ,2 International League Against EpilepsyEpilepsyDiagnosis.org. epilepsydiagnosis.orgDate: 2014 Google Scholar