Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy EMJ

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is an idiopathic generalized epilepsy affecting older children and adults, with a peak in frequency at puberty. It begins between the ages of 12 and 18, and is rare after the age of 30. The child will have one or more myoclonic jerks that predominate after awakening, associated or not with CGTCs and/or absences. EMJ is an electro-clinical genetic epilepsy. Our aim is to describe the electroclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of our patients. This is a prospective study from May 2014 to July 2015 at the epileptology consultation of the clinical neurophysiology department. Nineteen cases (11 M +9 F with a sex ratio of 1.22), mean age of onset 16.15 years, extremes from 9 to 30. The age group most affected was 14 to 19 years, with a frequency of 36.85%. History of familial epilepsy (73.68%), consanguinity (5.26%); myoclonic jerks associated with CGTC (64%) absences (10%); pathological EEG in all patients. Point-waves were the most frequent (57.89%), i.e. 11 cases. PHB was the most commonly used treatment, effective in 63.15% (12 cases).