EPILEPSY WITH MYOCLONIC ABSENCES (EMA)

Mandatory seizures

Myoclonic absence seizures are the defining seizure for this syndrome. These compose an absence seizure accompanied by myoclonic jerks in the arms with tonic abduction of the arm (giving a ratcheting appearance to the arm movement). These last 10-60s in duration and occur many times a day. They are the only seizure type seen in a third of cases. Myoclonic absence status epileptics is rare.

May have

• Generalized clonic or tonic-clonic seizures (seen in 45%)
• Atonic seizures
• Atypical absence seizures
• Absence seizures (uncommon, 4% of cases)
• Absence status epilepticus (uncommon)

Exclusionary

Focal seizures