[Clinical-epidemiological study of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in Santa Catarina State, Brazil].

Abstract

We aimed to characterize the clinical profile and to establish the prevalence of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) among 939 consecutive patients referred to our epilepsy clinic. Inclusion criteria in the study were: a) myoclonic jerks, preferably on awakening; b) beginning of the symptoms between 8 and 26 year-of-age; c) typical pattern of electroencephalographic discharges; and d) good response to sodium valproate (VPA). In a retrospective design, 26 cases of JME were identified (prevalence 2.8%). Most of these patients were female (73.1%). Mean age at onset of symptoms was 13 (range 7-18). Tonic-clonic seizures were reported in 92.3% and absence seizures in 19.2%. Besides, 92.3% of the patients had typical EEG epileptiform activity and 76.9% had good response to VPA with daily dose ranging from 500 mg to 1500 mg.

• Authors: R Figueredo, P C Trevisol-Bittencourt, J B Ferro
• Journal: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria (Arq Neuropsiquiatr) Vol. 57 Issue 2B Pg. 401-4 (Jun 1999) ISSN: 0004-282X [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Estudo clínico-epidemiológico de pacientes com epilepsia mioclônica juvenil em Santa Catarina.
• PMID: 10450346 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Valproic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Brazil
• Child
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Epilepsies, Myoclonic (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Retrospective Studies
• Valproic Acid (therapeutic use)