title: Documentation of autonomic seizures and autonomic status epilepticus with ictal EEG in Panayiotopoulos syndrome.
abstract: Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) is a common childhood susceptibility to autonomic seizures and status epilepticus. Despite its high prevalence, PS has been a source of significant debate. We present ictal EEG documentation of autonomic seizures and autonomic status epilepticus in six cases of PS and a review of 14 reported cases. Interictal EEGs showed spikes of variable locations that often changed with time. Ictal EEG onsets were also variable, starting from wide anterior or posterior regions usually with theta waves intermixed with small spikes and fast rhythms. Ictal vomiting and other autonomic manifestations, as well as deviation of the eyes, did not appear to relate to any specific region of EEG activation. These data document that PS is a multifocal autonomic epilepsy and support the view that the clinical manifestations are likely to be generated by variable and widely spread epileptogenic foci acting on a temporarily hyperexcitable central autonomic network.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy. nicola.specchio@opbg.net
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Specchio
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trivisano
authors.forename: Dianela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Claps
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vigevano
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications*