Gandelman‐Marton R, Theitler J. When should a sleep‐deprived EEG be performed following a presumed first seizure in adults?
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124: 202–205.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Objectives – To evaluate the effect of the interval between the seizure and the EEG recording on the yield of early sleep‐deprived EEG (SD‐EEG) in patients admitted following a presumed first seizure.
Materials and methods – We retrospectively reviewed the EEG recordings and medical records of patients admitted to the Neurology Department in Assaf Harofeh Medical Center because of a presumed first seizure during a 3‐year period between 2006 and 2009 and who had a SD‐EEG following a first routine EEG without epileptiform discharges (EDs).
Results – The study group included 78 patients aged 18–78 years (mean 35 ± 17). Previous seizures were recognized through repeated history in 32 (41%) patients. EDs were recorded in the SD‐EEG in 16 (21%) patients: 13/46 (28%) with a SD‐EEG performed within 3 days following the seizure and 3/32 (9%) with a later SD‐EEG (P = 0.042) and in 10/32 (31%) patients in whom previous seizures were recognized and 6/46 (13%) with a first seizure (P = 0.05).
Conclusions – EDs in the SD‐EEG following a first diagnosed seizure occur more commonly when the test is performed within 3 days following a first seizure or when previous seizures are recognized.