PERSISTENCE OF POINT-WAVES ON THE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM IN IDIOPATHIC GENERALIZED EPILEPSY AND THERAPEUTIC DECISION-MAKING

We reviewed the literature on the following issues in idiopathic gener alized epilepsy: is there a correlation between the persistence of sei zures and electroencephalographic anomalies? Do point-waves observed i n well-controlled patients constitute a factor predicting relapse? Do changes in paroxysmal anomalies during the disease course mean poor pr ognosis? Actually, there is very little literature on these issues and some disagreement in those data which have been published. Documented studies have been conducted in search of factors predicting relapse a t treatment withdrawal, but little has been published concerning the r ole of the EEG. Few studies specifically mention idiopathic generalize d epilepsy In terms of the syndrome studied, they concern heterogeneou s groups of patients. Generally, it is accepted that the EEG helps pre dict clinical course in idiopathic generalized epilepsy as it does in other epilepsies, given the characteristic EEG signs. This is true in patients under treatment and after treatment withdrawal. Risk errors w ere not however reported II would appear reasonable to assume that no one EEG anomaly is determinant outside the clinical context.