title: The association between seizure clustering and convulsive status epilepticus in patients with intractable complex partial seizures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the association between seizure clustering and convulsive status epilepticus (SE) in patients with intractable complex partial seizures, to identify whether patients whose seizures typically cluster are at high risk for convulsive SE (CSE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six patients with intractable complex partial epilepsy who underwent presurgical evaluation in the Montefiore Epilepsy Management Unit from 1993 to 1997 were contacted and interviewed about typical seizure frequency and distribution and history of CSE. Seizure clustering was defined as three or more complex partial seizures within a 24-h period, with return to baseline between seizures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 76 patients contacted, 21 (28%) had experienced at least one episode of CSE, and 36 (47%) typically experienced clustered seizures. SE occurred in 16 (44%) of 36 patients with clustered seizures, and in five (12.5%) of 40 patients with nonclustered seizures (p < 0.002). Of 53 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, CSE occurred in 13 (50%) of 26 patients with clustered seizures, and four (14.8%) of 27 patients with nonclustered seizures (p < 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with intractable complex partial or localization-related epilepsy who typically experience seizure clustering are at a significantly higher risk for CSE than are patients with nonclustered seizures.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Management Center, and Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467-2490, USA. haut@aecom.yu.edu
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Haut
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinnar
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moshé
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Dell
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Legatt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology