Myoclonus and the electroencephalogram, a review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Neurophysiology

Background:

• Myoclonus is a significant clinical manifestation observed across a wide spectrum of neurological disorders.
• These conditions include various epileptic syndromes, inborn errors of metabolism, degenerative processes, CNS infections, metabolic encephalopathies, poisoning, and anoxic brain injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the broad range of neurological conditions associated with myoclonus.
• To emphasize the diagnostic utility of Electroencephalography (EEG) in differentiating these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of neurological conditions presenting with myoclonus.
• Analysis of the role of EEG in the differential diagnosis of myoclonic disorders.

Main Results:

• Myoclonus is a common feature in diverse neurological diseases, including epilepsy, metabolic disorders, degenerative conditions, infections, and toxic/anoxic encephalopathies.
• EEG findings, including interictal abnormalities and ictal correlates, are crucial for distinguishing between these conditions.

Conclusions:

• Myoclonus is a unifying symptom in numerous neurological diseases.
• EEG is an indispensable tool for the differential diagnosis of conditions characterized by myoclonus.