title: Continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep in an adult.
abstract: Continuous spikes and waves during slow wave sleep (CSWS) is rare and is considered to be an age-related epileptic syndrome occurring only in children. We report the case of a 21-year-old patient diagnosed with this syndrome. The patient had a history of seizures since the age of 3 and was admitted for continuous video/EEG monitoring to evaluate seizure exacerbation and unprovoked outbursts of anger. During 3 days of monitoring, awake EEG recordings showed focal slow wave activity in the right temporal region. CSWS were observed. After a change in his antiepileptic drug regimen, subsequent EEG recordings showed resolution of CSWS. As shown in our patient, CSWS can be observed in adults. In addition, continuous video/EEG monitoring including sleep is important in the evaluation of patients with sudden deterioration of seizure control accompanied by behavioral changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. mkbens2@uky.edu <mkbens2@uky.edu>
authors.forename: Meriem K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bensalem-Owen
authors.forename: Toufic A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fakhoury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology