LE INDAGINI ELETTROFISIOLOGICHE NELLE EPILESSIE PARZIALI: LA POLIGRAFIA IN ETA PEDIATRICA

A polygraphic other than EEG recording of seizures helps in the definition and in the identification of clinical and EEG pattern of the ictal event. With this method we identified some new patterns of seizures in pediatric age and we describe them in detail. Apparently generalized seizures, especially in pediatric age, are associated or mixed with partial seizures in partial or generalized epilepsy. We identified with the help of polymyographic/EEG recording the following type of seizures: 1. spasm, which is identified by a rhombus aspect on the EMG channel and by a diffuse slow wave on the EEG; 2. tonic spasm, which is identified by a spasm strictly followed by a tonic posturing and by a slow wave followed by a fast rhythm on the EEG: 3. epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), which is identified, even if clinically subtle, as continuous focal myoclonic jerks associated with continuous contralateral spike-and-wave; 4. EPC with negative myoclonus, which is identified by a continuous focal negative myoclonus associated with contralateral continuous spike-and-wave on the EEG; 5. focal negative myoclonus, which is identified as a focal atonia associated with a contralateral isolated spike-and-wave paroxysm.