Perioral myoclonus with absences is a syndrome of idiopathic generalized epilepsy
with onset in childhood or adolescence characterized by frequent typical absences
with variable severity of impairment of consciousness and ictal localized rhythmic
myoclonus of the perioral facial muscles (lip myoclonus) or occasionally of the masticatory
muscles (jaw myoclonus). Because of predominant motor features of absences, it is
usually misdiagnosed as complex partial seizures and given drugs for partial seizures
which can precipitate absence status epilepticus. We present the clinical and electroencephalogram
data of a patient with perioral myoclonia with absences who had absence status epilepticus.
Relevant literature is also briefly reviewed.
Keywords
Absence seizure - perioral myoclonia - absence status epilepticus
