Case series of epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia

epilepsy with palpebral myoclonus is an idiopathic generalised childhood epilepsy, which is underdiagnosed because it is confused with tics or behavioral actions.

quantitative, observational, descriptive of 16 patients with epilepsy and myoclonic eyelids treated at an institution specialised in neurology, between the years 2017 and 2022. Clinical histories and videoelectroencephalograms were evaluated.

of 16 patients, 11 were women (68.8%), the median age was 17.5 years (IQR 12.5). The first diagnosis most frequently received by patients was idiopathic generalised epilepsy. Stressful situations were the most reported precipitant. 93.75% of the patients initially presented palpebral myoclonic seizures and after several years presented generalised tonic-clonic seizures. The time elapsed between the first seizure and the diagnosis varied between 1 and more than 40 years, being greater among patients with a subsidised health system. Men had a high frequency of family history of epilepsy in the first and second degrees of consanguinity, had a longer delay in diagnosis and reported greater drug resistance. In both women and men, the posterior regions (occipital, temporoccipital and parietoccipital) presented a greater focal epileptiform activity. The photoparoxysmal response occurred with greater predominance in women, with the Waltz type III and IV responses being the most frequent.

the importance of suspecting this pathology before palpebral myoclonus in children should be highlighted, guaranteeing quality and timely management.