A Native Haitian Woman with Unverricht-Lundborg Disease

Abstract

Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD) is an autosomal recessive progressive myoclonic epilepsy. The prevalence is highest in specific European countries and North Africa. Affected individuals have myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures and a variable degree of ataxia and cognitive impairment. We report a native Haitian woman with ULD who was wheelchair bound due to nearly continuous myoclonic seizures exacerbated by activity and emotional distress. The seizures and their dramatic increase with volitional activity were recorded during video electroencephalography monitoring. Rational antiepileptic drug therapy controlled the seizures well enough for the patient to achieve a level of independence she had not experienced in over 25 years.

Keywords

• Progressive myoclonic epilepsy
• Unverricht-Lundborg disease
• Cystatin B gene