[Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy with recurrent myoclonic status: efficacy of valproate].

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is characterized by a specific pharmacological sensitivity. JME is controlled by certain antiepileptic drugs but may be aggravated by others. Valproate is the treatment of choice of this epilepsy. Among the "newer" antiepileptic drugs those that appear to be useful are lamotrigine, topiramate, zonisamide and levetiracetam. We present a patient with JME who experienced myoclonic status epilepticus every months not controlled with lamotrigine monotherapy (200 mg/d), not controlled with levetiracetam monotherapy (1000 mg/d). Addition of valproate (500 mg/d) to levetiracetam fully controlled the seizures and levetiracetam was reduced to 500 mg/d. The patient is presently seizure free.