title: Stimulus-sensitive seizures in postanoxic coma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe four patients with stimulus-sensitive seizures and myoclonus following severe hypoxic-ischemic injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 22 months, four adult patients with myoclonus, generalized tonic-clonic, and clonic seizures following tactile stimulation were identified. EEG and hospital records were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EEGs showed bursts of generalized spike and polyspike activity following tactile stimulation associated with the clinical seizures. No cerebral activity was present between the epileptiform bursts. At times, prolonged periods of suppression were recorded. All patients failed to respond to antiepileptic drugs and died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stimulus-sensitive seizures and myoclonus following anoxia are associated with poor clinical outcome. The presence of seizures and myoclonus in conjunction with epileptiform discharges on EEG confirms that post-anoxic myoclonus is an epileptic state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Van Cott
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blatt
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003128:Coma / Q000150:complications*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014110:Touch
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants