John Libbey Eurotext




Epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow sleep: single pathological entity or clinical expression of epileptic encephalopathy?
Epilepsies. Volume 19, Number 2, 57-65, Avril, Mai, Juin, Mise au point
Résumé Article gratuit
Author(s) : Julien Praline, Séverine Debiais, Bertrand de Toffol, Caroline Hommet
Summary : The epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spikes and-waves during sleep (CSWS) is a rare age-dependent epileptic syndrome occurring in children. This syndrome is characterized by the association of various seizures, electrical status epilepticus during slow sleep and neuro-psychological disorders. The EEG pattern remains the major diagnostic criterion but not the only component of this pathologic entity which might be the result of an encephalopathy occurring in cerebral maturation.The location of the interictal focus seems to contribute to the clinical presentation and the long-term prognosis. While the epilepsy most often disappears in adulthood, the prognosis is frequently poor due to the associated neuro-psychological disorders. Consequently, an early diagnostic is required and regular and prolonged follow-up of patients is needed to improve patient care and manage the treatment.
Keywords : continuous spike and wave during sleep syndrome, electrical status epilepticus, neuropsychology, prognosis, encephalopathy

Epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow sleep: single pathological entity or clinical expression of epileptic encephalopathy?