Skip to Main Content

Inherited epileptic disorder characterized by myoclonic jerks, generalized tonic-clonic seizures and, sometimes absence seizures shortly after awakening. Normal intelligence and onset around adolescence are characteristic.

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy of Janz; Impulsive Petit Mal.

1:1000-2000 in the general population. JME represents 5 to 10% of all epileptic patients, but the condition probably is underdiagnosed. A slight prevalence among females has been reported in some (not all) studies.

Exact mode of inheritance is not clear. One third of JME patients have a positive family history of epilepsy. Some authors reported association with human leukocyte antigen of chromosome 6 (not confirmed by other studies).

Microscopic brain alterations (dystopic neurons in stratum moleculare, white matter, hippocampus, and cerebellar cortex) have been observed. Exact cause of this disorder remains unknown.

Based on clinical grounds. Video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring of typical seizures is the standard criterion (but not necessary to establish the diagnosis). The diagnosis should be suspected in patients with myoclonic jerks favored by reproducible precipitating factors. Sleep-deprived EEG with activation procedures (hyperventilation, photic stimulation) is the most useful test in clinical practice.

The disorder usually begins in adolescence and is characterized by absence seizures in early age. As the child ages, it is followed by myoclonic jerks in the morning (1-9 years later) and then grand mal seizures (a few years later). Patients are normally intelligent and do not lose consciousness during myoclonic jerks. Precipitating factors include sleep deprivation, psychological stress, alcohol use, and menses. Physical examination is normal.

Check anticonvulsant therapy (including doses of antiepileptics) and continue normal therapy until the morning of anesthesia and surgery. Premedication, preferably with a benzodiazepine, is mandatory to reduce preoperative stress (stress is a precipitating factor of seizures in this syndrome).

No specific anesthetic considerations with this medical condition.

Avoid anesthetic agents known to be associated with seizure activity or stimulation. Administration of an intravenous anticonvulsant for prolonged surgical procedures or after large blood loss must be considered.

Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: Characterized by recurrent seizures originating in the frontal lobes, often partial with or without secondary generalization; usually symptomatic of other disorders, either congenital (cortical dysgenesis, gliosis, or vascular malformations) or acquired (neoplasms, head trauma, infections, and anoxia). One rare variant is genetically transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait.

Bai D, Alonso ME, Medina MT, et al: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: Linkage to chromosome 6p12 in Mexico families. Am J Med Genet 113:268, 2002.  [PubMed: 12439895]
Canevini MP, Mai R, Di Marco C: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy of Janz: Clinical observations in 60 patients. Seizure 1:291, 1992.  [PubMed: 1344779]
Wheless JW, Kim HL: Adolescent seizures and epilepsy syndromes. Epilepsia 43(suppl 3):33, 2002.

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.

  • Create a Free Profile