title: [Epilepsia partialis continua (Kojevnikov's syndrome)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lesions close to the central sulcus may give rise to focal motor seizures of long duration. This condition is called epilepsia partialis continua (Kojevnikov's syndrome).
  
  
  METHODS
  Over the last two years, the National Centre for Epilepsy in Norway has treated 12 patients with epilepsia partialis continua. We discuss the occurrence, etiologies, semiology, findings from supplementary investigations, and therapeutic options on the basis of relevant literature and our own experience with these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphological lesions were found in 10 out of these 12 patients; cortical dysplasia in 3 patients, brain tumour in 2 patients, cerebral infarction in 2 patients, Rasmussen syndrome in 2 patients, and cerebral haemorrhage from an arteriovenous malformation in 1 patient. 9 patients had intermittent periods of jerking lasting from some hours to several days; the remaining 3 had permanent jerks. One of them had had this condition for 44 years. In 11 patients the jerks were localised to the face and/or the hand. The effect of antiepileptic drugs was disappointing; none became seizure-free. Five patients had undergone surgery. Surgical lesionectomy in this brain area is associated with a high risk of damage to eloquent cortex, but multiple subpial transections may have a seizure-blocking effect. One patient with Rasmussen's syndrome became seizure-free after a functional hemispherotomy.
authors.affiliation: Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi, 1337 Sandvika. karl.otto.nakken@epilepsy.no
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Nakken
authors.forename: Ann-Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Hrisimir
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kostov
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lossius
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haakonsen
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Server
authors.forename: Geir K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Røste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017036:Epilepsia Partialis Continua / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants