TREATMENT OF ELECTRICAL STATUS EPILEPTICUS BY SHORT DIAZEPAM (DZP) CYCLES AFTER DZP RECTAL BOLUS TEST

The effects of rapid rectal diazepam introduction (DZP test) were inve stigated in 43 patients (age range 5 months-14 years) with electrical status epilepticus (ESE) undergoing EEG monitoring, A remission of the paroxysmal activity was obtained in 58% of cases, a negative response in 42%, particularly in hypsarrhythmic patterns, DZP test responders were aged over 12 months with organized paroxysmal EEG patterns, in pa rticular with ESE during sleep (ESES), The patients who responded to t he DZP test underwent short cycles (3-4 weeks) of relatively high dosa ge DZP (0.5-0.75 mg/kg), The response to treatment was positive in 64% , particularly in ESES conditions, 56% of responders to the DZP test b ut not to DZP therapy (five out of nine patients) presented a signific ant mental retardation; maturational factors were also likely to be pr esent.