EPILEPSY WITH MYOCLONIC-ATONIC SEIZURES

Mandatory seizures

Myoclonic-atonic seizures are mandatory seizure types for this syndrome. Atonic and myoclonic seizures are frequent. Myoclonic-atonic status epilepticus is common.

May have

• Febrile seizures
• Absence seizures - seen in half of patients, typically with myoclonic jerks, facial myoclonia and atonia (not just loss of awareness)
• Atypical absence seizures
• Tonic seizures are rare - the presence of tonic seizures is linked to a higher frequency of cognitive impairment
• Generalized tonic-clonic seizures
• Non convulsive status epilepticus is common, lasting for hours to days and manifests as cognitive impairment with repetitive myoclonic (affecting face, eyelids and limbs) and atonic seizures.

Exclusionary

• Epileptic spasms
• Focal seizures