Journal of the Japan Epilepsy Society

Show abstractHide abstract

A 21 year old woman had had myoclonic seizures since the age of nine. She was diagnosed as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Her myoclonic seizures were completely suppressed with valproate, however, she had frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures. At the age of 23, she developed other seizures, consisting of brief contraction of the four limbs. Therefore, she was admitted and video-EEG monitoring was performed. The seizues were very similar to tonic seizure. Her generalized tonic-clonic seizure and tonic like seizure were successfully treated with phenytoin. Tonic seizures are commonly associated with epilepsy that has widespread cerebral dysfunction, such as symptomatic generalized epilepsy. But this patient exhibited features consistent with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (clinically, electroencephalographically), and didn't show neurological impairment and abnormal radiological findings. Therefore, she was diagnosed as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy with tonic like seizures. It is suggested that tonic like seizures may occur in these patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. We have to take care to diagnose and treat of such patients.

View full abstract

Download PDF (388K)

The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of triptan on patients with epilepsy. In particular, we focused on the quality of life (QOL) of epilepsy patients with migraine-like post-seizure headache.
Interviews were conducted on epileptic outpatients with migraine-like post-seizure headache (n=2) and epileptic outpatients with interictal headache (n=4). Migraine-like post-seizure headaches have a negative effect on the lives of epileptic outpatients. Triptan was moderately effective for post-seizure headache and had a discernible moderate effect on the QOL of the outpatients with migraine-like post-seizure headache. In contrast, the 3 outpatients with interictal headache showed individual variation in the effect of triptan. The present findings indicate that triptan is effective for migraine-like post-seizure headache and may improve the QOL of epileptic outpatients.

View full abstract

Register with J-STAGE for free!