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EEG bei Altersepilepsien

EEG in epilepsy in the elderly

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Abstract

The diagnostic yield of the EEG is thought to be less useful in the elderly epileptic patient. This retrospective study evaluates the results of repeated EEG recordings in 137 patients aged 65 years or more, who were admitted to the hospital because of epilepsy or a first unprovoked seizure. The mean number of records was three during an average period of 7 days. Epileptiform activity was present in 39%, focal slowing in 28%, and 25% had normal recordings. In 9 of 31 patients, epileptiform activity was detected in a sleep deprivation EEG. Recordings obtained within two days after the last seizure showed more epileptiform activity than those with longer intervals. The frequency of epileptiform activity decreased with follow-up recordings, whereas focal slowing remained unchanged. These results are in accordance with the incidence and the follow-up of epileptiform activity in younger adult epileptic patients.

Zusammenfassung

Die diagnostische Aussagekraft des EEG bei Altersepilepsien wird geringer eingeschätzt als bei jüngeren Patienten. In einer retrospektiven Analyse von 137 Patienten über 65 Jahren, die wegen einer Epilepsie oder einem unprovozierten Erstanfall stationär aufgenommen wurden, wurden in einem durchschnittlichen Beobachtungszeitraum von sieben Tagen die Ergebnisse wiederholter EEG-Untersuchungen bewertet. Bei 39% fanden sich epilepsietypische Veränderungen ganz überwiegend als fokale Sharp-wave-Herde, bei 28% Herdbefunde ohne epilepsietypische Potenziale und 25% aller Patienten hatten einen unauffälligen Befund. Neun von 31 Schlafentzugs-EEG zeigten epilepsietypische Potenziale. Der Nachweis epilepsietypischer Potenziale gelang häufiger bei Ableitungen innerhalb von zwei Tagen nach dem Anfall als bei längerem Intervall. Während der Verlaufsuntersuchungen nahm die Häufigkeit epilepsietypischer Potenziale ab, während die Herdbefunde unverändert blieben. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen keine Unterschiede im Vergleich mit den Häufigkeits- und Verlaufsangaben in der Literatur bei jüngeren erwachsenen Epilepsiepatienten.

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  1. Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum Krefeld, Lutherplatz 40, 47805, Krefeld, Germany

    Roland Besser

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  1. Roland Besser
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Besser, R. EEG bei Altersepilepsien. Z. Epileptol. 19, 6–10 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10309-006-0159-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10309-006-0159-3

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