Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1985 Jun;48(6):506–516. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.48.6.506

Primary generalised epileptic myoclonus: a frequent manifestation of minipolymyoclonus of central origin.

D E Wilkins, M Hallett, G Erba
PMCID: PMC1028366  PMID: 3925089

Abstract

A group of patients with myoclonus is described whose jerks are preceded by a bilaterally synchronous, frontocentrally predominant, negative cerebral potential in the EEG. This potential may be a slow wave with variable timing in relation to EMG bursts, and in this circumstance the muscle jerks are usually small amplitude and multifocal ("minipolymyoclonus"). The cerebral negativity can also be shorter in duration and time-locked to limb jerks, which are larger in amplitude and more widespread. We propose that the physiology of this distinct form of myoclonus is similar to that of primary generalised epilepsy.

Full text

PDF
516

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AGUILAR M. J., RASMUSSEN T. Role of encephalitis in pathogenesis of epilepsy. Arch Neurol. 1960 Jun;2:663–676. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1960.03840120069008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Canter N. L., Hallett M., Growdon J. H. Lecithin does not affect EEG spectral analysis or P300 in Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 1982 Nov;32(11):1260–1266. doi: 10.1212/wnl.32.11.1260. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cesa-Bianchi M. G., Mancia M., Mutani R. Experimental epilepsy induced by cobalt powder in lower brain-stem and thalamic structures. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1967 Jun;22(6):525–536. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(67)90060-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cirignotta F., Montagna P., Lugaresi E. Muscular inhibitory and excitatory phenomena during spike-and-wave discharges: effect of posture. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1981 Dec;44(12):1172–1173. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.44.12.1172. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dondey M. Transverse topographical analysis of petit mal discharges: diagnostical and pathogenic implications. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1983 Apr;55(4):361–371. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(83)90123-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Doose H., Gerken H., Leonhardt R., Völzke E., Völz C. Centrencephalic myoclonic-astatic petit mal. Clinical and genetic investigation. Neuropadiatrie. 1970 Aug;2(1):59–78. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1091841. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dyken P., Kolár O. Dancing eyes, dancing feet: infantile polymyoclonia. Brain. 1968 Jun;91(2):305–320. doi: 10.1093/brain/91.2.305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ellis W. G., McCulloch J. R., Corley C. L. Presenile dementia in Down's syndrome. Ultrastructural identity with Alzheimer's disease. Neurology. 1974 Feb;24(2):101–106. doi: 10.1212/wnl.24.2.101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. GASTAUT H., FISCHER-WILLIAMS M. Electro-encephalographic study of syncope; its differentiation from epilepsy. Lancet. 1957 Nov 23;273(7004):1018–1025. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(57)92147-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gastraut H., Roger J., Soulayrol R., Tassinari C. A., Régis H., Dravet C., Bernard R., Pinsard N., Saint-Jean M. Childhood epileptic encephalopathy with diffuse slow spike-waves (otherwise known as "petit mal variant") or Lennox syndrome. Epilepsia. 1966 Jun;7(2):139–179. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.1966.tb06263.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gloor P. Generalized epilepsy with spike-and-wave discharge: a reinterpretation of its electrographic and clinical manifestations. The 1977 William G. Lennox Lecture, American Epilepsy Society. Epilepsia. 1979 Oct;20(5):571–588. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1979.tb04840.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HOWELL D. A. Unusual centrencephalic seizure patterns. Brain. 1955;78(2):199–208. doi: 10.1093/brain/78.2.199. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hallett M., Chadwick D., Adam J., Marsden C. D. Reticular reflex myoclonus: a physiological type of human post-hypoxic myoclonus. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1977 Mar;40(3):253–264. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.40.3.253. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hallett M., Chadwick D., Marsden C. D. Ballistic movement overflow myoclonus a form of essential myoclonus. Brain. 1977 Jun;100(2):299–312. doi: 10.1093/brain/100.2.299. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hallett M., Chadwick D., Marsden C. D. Cortical reflex myoclonus. Neurology. 1979 Aug;29(8):1107–1125. doi: 10.1212/wnl.29.8.1107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Halliday A. M. The electrophysiological study of myoclonus in man. Brain. 1967 Jun;90(2):241–284. doi: 10.1093/brain/90.2.241. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Jankovic J., Fahn S. Physiologic and pathologic tremors. Diagnosis, mechanism, and management. Ann Intern Med. 1980 Sep;93(3):460–465. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-93-3-460. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kostopoulos G. Potentiation and modification of recruiting responses precedes the appearance of spike and wave discharges in feline generalized penicillin epilepsy. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1982 May;53(5):467–478. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(82)90059-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. LENNOX W. G., DAVIS J. P. Clinical correlates of the fast and the slow spike-wave electroencephalogram. Pediatrics. 1950 Apr;5(4):626–644. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Olson M. I., Shaw C. M. Presenile dementia and Alzheimer's disease in mongolism. Brain. 1969 Mar;92(1):147–156. doi: 10.1093/brain/92.1.147. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Riggs J. E., Gutmann L., Schochet S. S., Jr Contraction pseudotremor of chronic denervation. Arch Neurol. 1983 Aug;40(8):518–519. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1983.04210070058015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rodin E., Onuma T., Wasson S., Porzak J., Rodin M. Neurophysiological mechanisms involved in grand mal seizures induced by Metrazol and Megimide. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1971 Jan;30(1):62–72. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(71)90205-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. STEVENS J. R., NAKAMURA Y., MILSTEIN V., OKUMA P., LLINAS R. CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL FACTORS IN EPILEPTIC DISCHARGE. II. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES IN THE CAT. Arch Neurol. 1964 Nov;11:463–476. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1964.00460230013002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. SYMONDS C. Myoclonus. Med J Aust. 1954 May 22;41(1 21):765–768. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1954.tb85827.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Shahani B. T., Young R. R. Physiological and pharmacological aids in the differential diagnosis of tremor. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1976 Aug;39(8):772–783. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.39.8.772. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Shibasaki H., Kuroiwa Y. Electroencephalographic correlates of myoclonus. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1975 Nov;39(5):455–463. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(75)90046-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Shibasaki H., Motomura S., Yamashita Y., Shii H., Kuroiwa Y. Periodic synchronous discharge and myoclonus in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: diagnostic application of jerk-locked averaging method. Ann Neurol. 1981 Feb;9(2):150–156. doi: 10.1002/ana.410090208. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Shibasaki H., Yamashita Y., Kuroiwa Y. Electroencephalographic studies myoclonus. Brain. 1978 Sep;101(3):447–460. doi: 10.1093/brain/101.3.447. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Sulkava R., Haltia M., Paetau A., Wikström J., Palo J. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis in primary degenerative dementia: correlation with neuropathological findings. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1983 Jan;46(1):9–13. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.46.1.9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. WEIR B. SPIKES-WAVE FROM STIMULATION OF RETICULAR CORE. Arch Neurol. 1964 Aug;11:209–218. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1964.00460200105010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Wilkins D. E., Hallett M., Berardelli A., Walshe T., Alvarez N. Physiologic analysis of the myoclonus of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology. 1984 Jul;34(7):898–903. doi: 10.1212/wnl.34.7.898. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Zuckermann E. G., Glaser G. H. Urea-induced myoclonic seizures. An experimental study of site of action and mechanism. Arch Neurol. 1972 Jul;27(1):14–28. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1972.00490130016003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES