Stimulus-induced generalized epileptiform discharges: An unrecognized EEG pattern in refractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Copyright © 2014 by the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society. Purpose: To report an unrecognized EEG pattern occurring in patients with coma with nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) treated with thiopental and characterized by a high amplitude generalized sharp wave that was induced by isolated or repetitive low frequency photic or tactile stimulation (stimulus-induced generalized epileptiform discharges).Methods: Review of clinical and EEG records of 4 patients with stimulusinduced generalized epileptiform discharges identified among patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) of our institution who underwent EEG monitoring between July 2011 and January 2013.Results: Four patients had refractory NCSE secondary to hepatic encephalopathy, brain tumor, immunomediated encephalopathy, or anti-NMDA encephalitis. All of them were treated with several antiepileptic drugs and anesthetics, but stimulus-induced generalized epileptiform discharges were only recorded after control of NCSE with thiopental. The discharges occurred without associated clinical manifestations. Two patients died in the ICU, and two had a favorable outcome. Stimulus-induced generalized epileptiform discharges were not recorded in 240 critically ill patients admitted to the ICU who had an EEG recorded during this period. Twenty-two of them were in NCSE, and only one was treated with thiopental.Conclusions: Stimulus-induced generalized epileptiform discharges is an EEG pattern occurring in patients with NCSE treated with thiopental. The clinical relevance and pathophysiology of stimulus-induced generalized epileptiform discharges remain to be clarified.

Publication Date

12-12-2014

Publication Title

Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology

ISSN

07360258

E-ISSN

15371603

Volume

31

Issue

6

First Page

580

Last Page

585

PubMed ID

25462146

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1097/WNP.0000000000000092

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