title: [Transient cognitive impairment during generalized or diffuse epileptiform EEG discharges].
abstract: Epileptiform EEG discharges (EED) are a frequent finding in people with epilepsy, and may occur in other clinical conditions. Formal testing during EEG recording may demonstrate transitory cognitive impairment (TCI). Thirty patients (27 with epilepsy) with generalized or diffuse EED on a previous examination were studied. The interaction between EED and cognitive tasks was evaluated on subsequent EEG. The numbers of correct or incorrect answers were compared with the occurrence or absence of EED. Results were analyzed by non parametric tests. TCI was characterized in 43.3% of the patients. In 23.3% the EED were rare and it was not possible to evaluate the occurrence of TCI. The findings confirm that otherwise subclinical EED may be accompanied by TCI. There is a need of research to evaluate the relevance of TCI and to determine when EED should be treated.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, SP, Brasil. lineu.fonseca@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Lineu Corrêa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Gloria M A S
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tedrus
authors.forename: Diana Toselo
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lalloni
authors.forename: Lucinda Maria Garcia
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tella
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maluf
authors.forename: Valdemar Donizeti de
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests