title: Acute EEG findings in children with febrile status epilepticus: results of the FEBSTAT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The FEBSTAT (Consequences of Prolonged Febrile Seizures) study is prospectively addressing the relationships among serial EEG, MRI, and clinical follow-up in a cohort of children followed from the time of presentation with febrile status epilepticus (FSE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 199 children with FSE within 72 hours of presentation. Children underwent a detailed history, physical examination, MRI, and EEG within 72 hours. All EEGs were read by 2 teams and then conferenced. Associations with abnormal EEG were determined using logistic regression. Interrater reliability was assessed using the κ statistic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 199 EEGs, 90 (45.2%) were abnormal with the most common abnormality being focal slowing (n = 47) or attenuation (n = 25); these were maximal over the temporal areas in almost all cases. Epileptiform abnormalities were present in 13 EEGs (6.5%). In adjusted analysis, the odds of focal slowing were significantly increased by focal FSE (odds ratio [OR] = 5.08) and hippocampal T2 signal abnormality (OR = 3.50) and significantly decreased with high peak temperature (OR = 0.18). Focal EEG attenuation was also associated with hippocampal T2 signal abnormality (OR = 3.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focal EEG slowing or attenuation are present in EEGs obtained within 72 hours of FSE in a substantial proportion of children and are highly associated with MRI evidence of acute hippocampal injury. These findings may be a sensitive and readily obtainable marker of acute injury associated with FSE.
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA. dnordli@luriechildrens.org
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Nordli
authors.forename: Solomon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moshé
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinnar
authors.forename: Dale C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hesdorffer
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sogawa
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pellock
authors.forename: Darrell V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: L Matthew
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Ruth C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shinnar
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*