Epilepsia
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Case Reports
Focal status epilepticus: clinical features and significance of different EEG patterns.
Focal status epilepticus is typically diagnosed by the observation of continuous jerking motor activity, but many other manifestations have been described. EEG evidence of focal status may take several forms, and their interpretation is controversial. We detailed the clinical spectrum of focal status in patients diagnosed by both clinical deficit and EEG criteria and contrasted clinical manifestations in patients with different EEG patterns. ⋯ Focal status epilepticus may be seen with a wide variety of clinical seizure types or without obvious clinical seizures. The diagnosis is often delayed or missed and should be considered after strokes or clinical seizures when patients do not stabilize or improve as expected. The diagnosis should be made equally whether patients have discrete electrographic seizures or continuous rapid focal epileptiform discharges on the EEG, and the same response to medications and outcome should be anticipated for the two groups.