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Serial EEG in intractable epilepsy

From the Clinical Epilepsy Section, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, IRP, NINCDS (Drs. Theodore and Porter), and the Epilepsy Branch, CDNDP, NINCDS (Drs. Theodore, Sato, and Porter).

We compared serial EEGs performed at admission, discharge, and follow-up (mean, 25 months) to clinical outcome in 70 patients with intractable epilepsy. The diagnosis in each case was confirmed by intensive monitoring. EEG features evaluated were background slowing, focal slowing, and focal, bilateral, or generalized epileptiform discharges. Clinical measures were seizure frequency and medication toxicity. No statistically significant correlations were found between improvement in any EEG feature and any clinical measure. EEG did not predict which patients would benefit from intensive monitoring. Serial EEGs may be of little value in assessing the results of treatment in patients with severe epilepsy.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Theodore, Federal Building, Room 114, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda. MD 20205.

Presented in part at the 35th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, San Diego, CA, April 1983.

Accepted for publication November 2, 1983.