Development of focal chronic epilepsy following focal status epilepticus in adult patients

In several experimental models, status epilepticus (SE) leads to secondary brain hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis. In humans, such phenomena have been rarely demonstrated, particularly in cases of SE involving the neocor tical structures. We report a 36 year old woman that presented partial SE i n May 1991 involving the right cerebral hemisphere. The patient was then tr eated in the intensive care unit with artificial ventilation and anesthesia by pentobarbital and clometiazole. MRI showed transient right parietal and temporal posterior cortical hyperintensity. The cause of SE was not determ ined. Three months later, the patient developped partial complex seizures w ith aura characterized by vertigo, nausea and auditory hallucination. Ictal video/EEG recording showed a clear right temporal posterior onset of the d ischarges. We speculate that status epilepticus created the lesions which s ubsequently caused the focal chronic epilepsy. (C) Elsevier, Paris.