Epilepsy with primarily generalized myoclonic-astatic seizures: a genetically determined disease.

This paper presents case reports of patients suffering from myoclonic-astatic and stimulus-sensitive myoclonic seizures, respectively. It gives details of clinical and EEG data in the pertinent families. This is discussed in the context of controversial nosographic concepts of epilepsies with myoclonic seizures, and of the results of extensive family investigations. The findings demonstrate the decisive importance of hereditary factors in the pathogenesis of myoclonic and myoclonic-astatic epilepsy, the genetic background of which is probably polygenic.