Drug-resistant status epilepticus

Refractory epileptic state (RES) is defined by severe seizures that are res istant to antiepileptic drug treatment. Diagnostic errors such as pseudo-se izures and encephalopathies with triphasic waves must be distinguished at a n early stage from cases of RES. The latter are symptomatic of a focal brai n lesion or severe systemic disease, most frequently metabolic in origin. T he treatment of such conditions is aimed at correction of the underlying ca use. A nosographic issue that is still a subject of discussion and which re quires further study, i.e., PLEDS, will also be discussed in this article. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.