Focal Cerebral Metabolic Abnormality in a Patient With Continuous Spike Waves During Slow-Wave Sleep

We report an 11-year-old boy with continuous spike-wave discharges during sleep accompanied by partial motor and atypical absence seizures, psychomotor regression, and severe behavior problems. During wakefulness, epileptiform discharges occurred over the right parietal region, suggesting that the continuous spike-wave discharges during sleep were a manifestation of secondary bilateral synchrony. Bilateral suppression of the spike-and-wave activity was observed after right-sided intracarotid amobarbital injection, further supporting the impression of secondary bilateral synchrony. The right superior temporoparietal increase in metabolic activity during continuous spike-wave discharges and noncontinuous spike-wave discharges was seen on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and supports a right temporoparietal focus in our case. The presence of a focal abnormality suggests that surgical therapy may be effective. (J Child Neurol 1994;9:139-143).