Myoclonic Seizures
Myoclonic
epilepsy refers to a family of epilepsies that present with myoclonus. When myoclonic jerks are occasionally associated with abnormal
brain wave activity, it can be categorized as myoclonic seizure. If the abnormal
brain wave activity is persistent and results from ongoing seizures, then a diagnosis of myoclonic
epilepsy may be considered.
Myoclonus can be described as brief jerks of the body it can involve any part of the body, but it is mostly seen in limbs or facial muscles. The jerks are usually involuntary and can lead to falls. EEG is used to read
brain wave activity. Spike activity produced from the
brain is usually correlated with brief jerks seen on EMG or excessive muscle artifact. They usually occur without detectable loss of consciousness and may be generalized, regional or focal on the EEG tracing. Myclonus jerks can be epileptic or not epileptic. Epileptic myoclonus is an elementary electroclinical manifestation of
epilepsy involving descending neurons, whose spatial (spread) or temporal (self-sustained repetition) amplification can trigger overt epileptic activity.
Myoclonic epilepsy involves myoclonic seizures. They are characterized by myoclonic jerks—sudden, unintended muscle contractions. There are several types of myoclonic epilepsy, all of which usually begin during childhood, are typically caused by genetic factors, and may also cause cognitive and developmental problems. Juvenile myoclonic
epilepsy (JME) is the most common form of this condition.
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