Eye Closure Sensitivity: A Form of Photosensitivity in Generalized Genetic Epilepsy
Abstract number :
3.166
Submission category :
18. Case Studies
Year :
2024
Submission ID :
365
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/9/2024 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Authors :
Presenting Author: Ram Baboo, MD – University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics
Blake Newman, MD – University of Utah
Sindhu Richards, MD – University of Utah
Amir Arain, MD – University of Utah
Rationale: To review eye closure sensitivity as a feature of generalized epilepsy. We present our series of eight patients with eye closure sensitivity as a feature of generalized epilepsy from 2012 to 2024.
Methods: Eight patients with generalized epilepsy who were found to have eye closure sensitivity on EEG were retrospectively reviewed over a period of 12 years. Eye closure sensitivity as a form of photosensitivity as baseline and their GTC seizure frequency was compared at the last follow up and correlated with demographic, clinical and imaging data.
Results: All patients had genetic generalized epilepsy (JME and absence JAE) while one patient also had bitemporal epilepsy and had RNS in bitemporal region. This patient later had RNS explanted due to infection, but she remained seizure free without any ASMs. Age at seizure onset ranged from 15 to 50 years.
Two patients presented with absence status epilepticus, among which one had multiple episodes.
Three patients had vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices in addition to antiseizure medications and one patient had RNS with bilateral centromedian electrodes. The median monthly frequency of seizures was 1.5 per month to 2 per year for GTCs and 1.5 to daily seizures for absence seizures. Three patients had intractable seizures. While one patient had absence seizures with eyelid myoclonia and PNES (Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures) had no improvement in his seizure frequency largely due to non-compliance and was eventually lost to follow up.
Five patients continued to have seizures requiring ASMs while two patients were seizure free at last follow-up while the other patient had not yet followed up in the clinic.
Conclusions: Eye closure sensitivity is a relatively lesser-known feature of generalized epilepsy. We present our series of eight patients with eye closure sensitivity as a feature of generalized epilepsy, while one patient also had bitemporal epilepsy.
Funding: None
Case Studies