Epilepsy Syndromes Associatedwith Photosensitivity

 

Epilepsy Syndromes Associated
with Photosensitivity

– Benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy
– Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (Dravet Syndrome)
(40%)
– Myoclonic-astatic epilepsy (Doose Syndrome)
– Childhood absence & juvenile absence (13-18%)
– Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (30-35%)
– Epilepsy with GTC seizures on awakening (13%)
– Primary reading epilepsy (<10%)
– Jeavons syndrome (eyelid myoclonia and absences)
– Progressive myoclonic epilepsies (NCLFs, Lafora's
disease, Unverricht-Lundborg disease, MERRF)
– Idiopathic photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy.
Guerrini R, Genton P. Epilepsia, 2004; 45 (Suppl 1): 14-18.
Photosensitivity: Types of
Seizures Induced
• Prevalence based on the literature:
– GTC (55-84%)
– Absences (6-20%)
– Myoclonic jerks (2-8%)
– Focal seizures (2.5%)
• Reports may over-exaggerate GTCs in
relation to "minor" seizure events.
• Clinical experience: Myoclonic jerks >
absences > GTCs.
Panayiotopoulos C. Epileptic Syndromes and Their Treatment. Springer. London 2009.
Photosensitivity Historical Timeline
1885 Gowers described girl with seizures when going into
bright sunlight
1932 Radovici described eyelid myoclonias and absence
seizures in response to eyelid closure while looking
at bright light
1952 Livingston reported TV-induced seizures for 1st time
1962 Gastaut studied 35 patients with TV induced
seizures
1981 Rushton reports "Space-Invader epilepsy"
1993 TV commercial caused 3 seizures in UK. Guidelines
for photic stimulation in commercials introduced.
1997 Pokemon Episode (Pikachu) induced seizures in
560 Japanese children.
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