Photosensitivity in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Abstract

Photosensitivity is reported to occur in approximately 40% of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Our experience suggests that the prevalence is higher and may be related to both the duration of intermittent photic stimulation and also the age at which the procedure is undertaken. A two-year retrospective review of all EEGs was undertaken on all children attending a paediatric EEG department to identify those with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Photosensitivity was defined as a generalized spike or spike-wave paroxysm occurring at least twice during intermittent photic stimulation. Sixty-one children with a diagnosis of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy with a median age of 13 (range 7-16) years were identified, 55 (90%) of whom were photosensitive. Eighteen of these 55 patients showed photosensitivity only after four minutes of continuous photic stimulation. The prevalence of photosensitivity in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is likely to be higher than previously reported. When a diagnosis of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is being considered, the initial diagnostic EEG should include intermittent photic stimulation for up to five minutes, or less if the patient shows evidence of photosensitivity. The identification of photosensitivity may have important management implications.

CBF changes in drug naive juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients

“…1). These areas are related with visual function [1,37], and the dysfunction of these areas may be associated with the photosensitivity of JME [3,18].…”

Levetiracetam in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: long‐term efficacy in newly diagnosed adolescents

“…1 The main clinical symptoms of JME are myoclonic jerks on awakening, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, typical absences, and photosensitivity. 1,2 This type of epilepsy generally responds to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and is, therefore, generally considered a benign type of epilepsy. 3 Physicians have at their disposal many AEDs to treat JME; historically, valproic acid was the first AED used to treat myoclonic seizures, 4 but levetiracetam (LEV) could be a good alternative because of its efficacy against all three JME seizure types and photosensitivity, and because of lack of the endocrine and metabolic side-effects frequently reported in patients receiving valproic acid.…”

Prognosis of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

“…Yapılan çalışmalarda bu oranlar %8-90 arasında değişmek-tedir. 12 Literatürde fotosensitivitenin kadınlarda daha sık olduğu ve bu hastalarda valproik aside yanıtın iyi olduğu belirtilmiştir.…”