Overview
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is an idiopathic, hereditary, and generalized form of epilepsy, accounting for approximately 5%-10% of all epilepsy cases. JME typically manifests between the ages of 12 and 18 years. It is characterized by the presence of absence seizures (20-40%), myoclonic seizures (100%), and generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures (85-90%).
Clinical Features
- Myoclonic Seizures: Defining feature of JME, required for diagnosis. These seizures are short, bilateral jerking motions of the arms and legs, typically occurring 30 minutes to an hour after waking up without loss of consciousness.
- Absence Seizures: Often the first type to appear, usually occurring 3 to 5 years before the onset of myoclonic or GTC seizures, as early as 5 to 6 years old.
- GTC Seizures: Typically develop many months after myoclonic seizures begin.
- Triggers: Sleep loss, alcohol consumption, mental stress, worry, and exhaustion. Approximately 30-40% of JME patients are photosensitive, often with an earlier onset of seizures.
- Psychiatric Disorders: Increased prevalence of anxiety, mood disorders, and personality disorders (Trinka E et al., 2006).