Reflex seizure
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reflex seizures are epileptic seizures that are consistently induced by a specific stimulus or trigger, making them distinct from other epileptic seizures, which are usually unprovoked.[4][3] Reflex seizures are otherwise similar to unprovoked seizures and may be focal (simple or complex), generalized, myoclonic, or absence seizures.[1] Epilepsy syndromes characterized by repeated reflex seizures are known as reflex epilepsies.[3][4] Photosensitive seizures are often myoclonic, absence, or focal seizures in the occipital lobe, while musicogenic seizures are associated with focal seizures in the temporal lobe.[3]
Reflex seizure | |
---|---|
Specialty | Neurology |
Symptoms | Seizures due to a specific trigger[1] |
Treatment | Decreasing exposure to triggers, anti-epileptic medications[2][3] |
Frequency | Relatively rare[3] |
Triggers may include various stimuli with the most common (75 to 80%) being flickering lights resulting in photosensitive seizures.[3] Reflex epilepsies are generally thought to be genetic in origin.[3] The inheritance pattern is dependent on the type of reflex epilepsy, with some types lacking specific genetic inheritance patterns.[3] For example, photogenic epilepsy is thought to follow an autosomal dominant pattern with incomplete penetrance, while seizures triggered by proprioceptive stimuli do not follow an observable inheritance pattern.[3] The underlying mechanism involves the stimulation of existing network of neurons by the specific trigger.[3]
The treatment of reflex epilepsy generally involves decreasing exposure to a person's triggers as well as anti-epileptic medications.[2][3] Reflex epilepsy is relatively rare, making up approximately 5% of epilepsy syndromes.[3]