[Quantitative analysis of EEG basic rhythms in epileptics (author's transl)]. 1979

H Shimizu

Basic rhythms of EEG were quantitatively analyzed in 92 adult idiopathic epileptic patients and in 57 age-matched control subjects. Epileptic patients have been administered one or both of anticonvulsants, phenobarbital (PB) and diphenyl-hydantoin (DPH). Before the EEG study, blood samples were taken from patients and serum concentration of PB and DPH was examined with UV method. Dose and serum level correlation was statistically significant in both drugs but fairly inferior in DPH. Dominant posterior rhythms in awake subjects were restored in a medical computer. These data were transformed with a Fast Fourier method into amplitude spectra, which were expressed in percentage distribution of each frequency band, i.e. delta (1.0--3.5 Hz), theta (4.0--7.5), alpha (8.0--12.5) and beta activity (13.0--29.5 Hz). As the first result, it was found that slow wave activity significantly increased and alpha activity decreased in epileptics compared with control subjects. No difference was found in beta activity. So as the next step, the etiologies of abnormal slowness of epileptic EEG were investigated in relation to serum level of anticonvulsants, age of seizure onset, seizure frequency, duration of medication and seizure types. These analysis confirmed that slowing of epileptic EEG has statistically significant correlation with the following factors, 1) high serum level of anticonvulsants (PB greater than 20 microgram/ml), DPH greater than 15 microgram/ml) 2) high frequency of seizures (more than once per month) 3) seizure onset at young ages (0--5 yrs.) 4) psychomotor seizure type. When these slowing factors are plurally involved in one patient, the degree of EEG slowness increased in proportion to the numbers of these factors. On the other hand, if the comparison was made between epileptics without these factors and control subjects, strikingly no minimum differences was found in basic rhythms. This result induces the very important conclusion that epilepsy itself has no direct effect on slowing of basics rhythms and if there exists slowing, some secondary reasons must be searched. The author also speculated pathogenetic causes of EEG slowing by these factors and insisted that there exist very close interrelation between basic EEG rhythms and prognosis of epilepsy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010634 Phenobarbital A barbituric acid derivative that acts as a nonselective central nervous system depressant. It potentiates GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID action on GABA-A RECEPTORS, and modulates chloride currents through receptor channels. It also inhibits glutamate induced depolarizations. Phenemal,Phenobarbitone,Phenylbarbital,Gardenal,Hysteps,Luminal,Phenobarbital Sodium,Phenobarbital, Monosodium Salt,Phenylethylbarbituric Acid,Acid, Phenylethylbarbituric,Monosodium Salt Phenobarbital,Sodium, Phenobarbital
D010672 Phenytoin An anticonvulsant that is used to treat a wide variety of seizures. It is also an anti-arrhythmic and a muscle relaxant. The mechanism of therapeutic action is not clear, although several cellular actions have been described including effects on ion channels, active transport, and general membrane stabilization. The mechanism of its muscle relaxant effect appears to involve a reduction in the sensitivity of muscle spindles to stretch. Phenytoin has been proposed for several other therapeutic uses, but its use has been limited by its many adverse effects and interactions with other drugs. Diphenylhydantoin,Fenitoin,Phenhydan,5,5-Diphenylhydantoin,5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione,Antisacer,Difenin,Dihydan,Dilantin,Epamin,Epanutin,Hydantol,Phenytoin Sodium,Sodium Diphenylhydantoinate,Diphenylhydantoinate, Sodium
D003700 Delta Rhythm Brain waves seen on EEG characterized by a high amplitude and a frequency of 4 Hz and below. They are considered the "deep sleep waves" observed during sleep in dreamless states, infancy, and in some brain disorders. Delta Rhythms,Rhythm, Delta,Rhythms, Delta
D004569 Electroencephalography Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain. EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D004827 Epilepsy A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313) Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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