J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2011 Apr;19(1):33-39.

Relationship between Initial EEG and the Prognosis of Acute Encephalitis

• Oh JM
• Kong SG
• Lee YJ
• Nam SO

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to identify the usefulness of initial electroencephalograms (EEG) in the prediction of neurological outcomes of acute encephalitis.
METHODS
Thirty-one patients diagnosed with acute encephalitis between January 2007 and March 2010 were included in the study, all of whom were less than 18 years old. Patients were divided into two groups. Those who had recovered completely were designated group A, and those who had neurological sequalae were designated group B. We compared the severity of EEG background abnormalities according to the Synek classification, and the incidence of interictal epileptiform discharges, electrographic seizures, normal sleep features, and EEG reactivity to pain stimuli between the two groups upon initial EEGs.
RESULTS
Compared with group A, group B showed a higher grade of EEG background abnormalities (P = 0.004). The incidence of interictal epileptiform discharge (P = 0.004) and electrographic seizure (P = 0.049) were also higher in group B. Further, Group A had more EEG reactivity (P = 0.002) and the incidence of normal sleep features tended to be higher in group A (P = 0.081).
CONCLUSION
Initial EEG features including the severity of EEG background abnormalities are helpful in predicting the prognosis of acute encephalitis.

Keyword

Encephalitis; Prognosis; Electroencephalography

MeSH Terms

Electroencephalography
Encephalitis
Humans
Incidence
Prognosis
Seizures