Reflex epilepsy: a review

  Karim Nikkhah - Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
  Mohammad Taghi Farzadfard - Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
  Fariborz Rezaeitalab - Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Interesting phenomena of reflex epileptic syndromes are characterized by epileptic seizures each one induced by specific stimulus with a variety of types. Simple triggers, which lead to seizures within seconds, are of sensory type (most commonly visual, most rarely tactile or proprioceptive stimuli). Complex triggers, which are mostly of cognitive type such as praxis, reading, talking, and music, usually induce the epileptic event within minutes. It should differ from what most epileptic patients report as provocative precipitants for seizures (such as emotional stress, fatigue, fever, sleep deprivation, alcohol, and menstrual cycle). The identification of a specific trigger is not only important for patients or their parents to avoid seizures, but also it might help neurologists to choose the most effective antiepileptic drug for each case. In addition, research in this area may possibly reveal some underlying pathophysiology of epileptic phenomena in the brain.In this review, we briefly introduce reported reflex epileptic seizures, their clinical features and management.

Reflex epilepsy, Reflex seizures, Triggers