Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) in Iran

Because most descriptive studies did not specifically analyze the syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), including juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), epidemiologic data concerning these syndromes are scarce or often unreliable. In this retrospective chart review study, all patients with a clinical diagnosis of JME were recruited at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from 2008 to 2013. Demographic variables and relevant clinical and EEG variables were summarized descriptively. 2,750 patients with epilepsy were registered at our epilepsy clinic; 239 patients (8.7 %) were diagnosed as having JME. Female to male ratio was 1.7. Age at seizure onset was 15 ± 3.5 years. Generalized tonic–clonic seizures were reported by 225 patients (94.1 %) and absences by 90 (37.6 %). Electroencephalography (EEG) was abnormal in 69.6 % of the patients. JME is one of the most common syndromes of IGEs. The key element in making the correct diagnosis is obtaining a detailed clinical history. MRI or laboratory tests in a patient, in whom you are suspecting JME are not necessary. Even EEG has some limitations and normal or even atypical findings in a patient with typical history for JME should not deter from the correct diagnosis.