[[headline-2]What is LGS?]
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a complex, rare, and severe type of [[tooltip]epilepsy]. While doctors don't yet know everything about this condition, they do know a lot. Here are some known facts about LGS.
[[headline-2,color-green]Facts About LGS]
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[[color-cyan]LGS] is a severe type of epilepsy
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It is estimated that LGS makes up
[[color-green-bright]1%] to [[color-green-bright]2%] of all epilepsy cases
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Symptoms are typically first seen in children between the ages of [[color-green-bright]2] and [[color-green-bright]8]
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Seizures are frequent—[[color-teal-deep]OCCURRING DAILY] —and difficult to manage
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The types of seizures seen in LGS [[color-cyan]CHANGE OVER TIME]
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Some people are not diagnosed until ADULTHOOD
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[[color-green-bright]LGS] is characterized by a [[color-cyan]"TRIAD"] of symptoms
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LGS affects people of [[color-cyan]ALL RACES AND ETHNICITIES]
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LGS is a [[color-teal-deep]LIFELONG CONDITION] for which there is currently no cure
[[onfi-quote,color-green-light]WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW]
No two people experience LGS the same way, so it’s hard to predict how a person will be affected. Some may have mild symptoms, while others may have severe symptoms. With that in mind, it’s important to know that:
- Seizure management is possible
- For people with LGS and their families, setting realistic expectations and focusing on what you and your family can do can be helpful
Living with LGS is challenging, and everyone’s journey will be different. By learning all you can, understanding what to expect and working with your healthcare team, there’s a lot you can do to provide the best care for your loved one.
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Signs of LGS
A diagnosis of LGS is based on more than just [[tooltip]seizures], although having different types of seizures is an important part of the diagnosis. There are 3 signs that your loved one may have LGS.
[[headline-5]Sign #1: TYPES OF SEIZURES]
[[txt-size-14]People with LGS may experience many different types of seizures. Watch these videos to learn about the different types of seizures and how they present].
[[headline-6]Atonic]
https://players.brightcove.net/4804905851001/VyCrCQu6g_default/index.html?videoId=5187106074001
During an [[tooltip]atonic seizure], muscles go limp.
[[headline-6]Atypical absence]
https://players.brightcove.net/4804905851001/VyCrCQu6g_default/index.html?videoId=5187118375001
During [[tooltip]atypical absence seizures], a person may stare blankly, appear to be daydreaming, and/or may not respond to what's going on around him or her.
[[headline-6]Myoclonic]
https://players.brightcove.net/4804905851001/VyCrCQu6g_default/index.html?videoId=5187125093001
During a [[tooltip]myoclonic seizure], a person's muscles may quickly alternate between stiffening and relaxing, which makes it look like he or she is twitching.
[[headline-6]Tonic]
https://players.brightcove.net/4804905851001/VyCrCQu6g_default/index.html?videoId=5187125590001
[[tooltip]Tonic seizures] are the most common seizure type in people with LGS. They cause muscles in the arms or legs to stiffen. This type of seizure can happen when asleep or awake. Losing consciousness is possible.
[[headline-6]Tonic-clonic]
https://players.brightcove.net/4804905851001/VyCrCQu6g_default/index.html?videoId=5187117244001
This is the "classic" seizure. It has 2 successive phases—a [[tooltip]tonic] phase, where a person's muscles stiffen, followed by a [[tooltip]clonic] phase, where a person's muscles spasm and jerk. Losing consciousness is possible.
[[headline-5]Sign #2: DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS]
In addition to different types of seizures, the diagnosis of LGS is based on whether a person shows signs of developmental delays and [[tooltip]cognitive impairment]. Developmental delays appear in nearly all patients with LGS.
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Infants may have [[color-cyan]developmental delays]
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Children may develop normally but then [[color-green-bright]begin to lose ground]
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People with LGS [[color-cyan]may have cognitive impairment]
[[headline-5]Sign #3: DISTINCTIVE EEG]
An [[tooltip]electroencephalogram (EEG)] is a snapshot of the brain’s electrical activity, shown in waves. The shape of the waves changes based on the activity of the brain when the EEG is taken. Normal brain activity shows a constant flow of very small and consistent waves, with spikes that are sharp and fast. An EEG in children with LGS usually shows a specific pattern of activity, called a slow spike-and-wave pattern. The dips and waves are much slower than normal, and they repeat at a slower frequency than those in a normal EEG. A slow spike-and-wave pattern EEG changes in adults with LGS.
