[Myoclonias and epilepsy]

The myoclonias and epilepsies may be closely related as in the so-called myoclonic epilepsies. The myoclonic epilepsies form a heterogeneous group of epilepsies in which myoclonias and myoclonic seizures are the most relevant symptom.

Following the classification of epileptic disorders into syndromes, we consider the most relevant electroclinical characteristics of the different epilepsies seen from the first year of life to old age. Regarding the idiopathic focal epilepsies we consider epilepsy with Rolandic paroxysms in which, in some patients, negative myoclonus and a myoclonic variant of reading epilepsy may occur. Negative epilepsy and continuous partial epilepsy are considered with the cryptogenic and symptomatic focal epilepsies. In the idiopathic generalized epilepsies we consider the benign myoclonic epilepsy of infancy and its reflex variant, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and palpebral myoclonias with absences. In the group of cryptogenic and symptomatic generalized epilepsies we analyze epilepsy with myoclonic absences, myoclonic-static epilepsies, the myoclonic variant of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, progressive myoclonic epilepsies, adult familial myoclonic epilepsies and the myoclonic epilepsies of the elderly. Finally, among the unclassified group of epilepsies, we briefly consider severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy and the myoclonic epilepsies associated with static encephalopathy.