Stato di male non convulsivo. Analisi di 124 casi

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is defined as a mental status change from baseline during at least 30 minutes associated with continuous or nearly continuous ictal EEG discharges, categorized into complex partial status epilepticus, and generalized nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Despite being often regarded as a benign condition, NCSE is accompanied by serious morbidity and mortality. The clinical signs of NCSE may be subtle or misleading, so that diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. The object of this study is to determinate the natural history of NCSE in a series of 124 adults patients evaluated in a teaching hospital of Genova. Diagnosis was based on EEG and clinical manifestation. Lesional aetiology and consequently the type of NCSE and the absence of clinical and EEG response to BZD administration are associated with poor prognosis.