title: Controversial issues on EEG after sleep deprivation for the diagnosis of epilepsy.
abstract: EEG after sleep deprivation (SD-EEG) is widely used in many epilepsy centers as an important tool in the epilepsy diagnosis process. However, after more than 40 years of use, there are a number of issues which still need to be clarified concerning its features and role. In particular, the many scientific papers addressing its role in epilepsy diagnosis often differ remarkably from each other in terms of the type of patients assessed, their description and study design. Furthermore, also the length and the type of EEG performed after SD, as well as the length of SD itself, vary dramatically from one study to another. In this paper we shortly underscore the abovementioned differences among the different reports, as well as some interpretations of the findings obtained in the different studies. This analysis emphasizes, if needed, how SD-EEG still represents a crucial step in epilepsy diagnosis, and how additional, controlled studies might further shape its precise diagnostic/prognostic role.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, I56126 Pisa, Italy ; Neurology Unit of the Department of Neuroscience, AOUP, I56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo Sean
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maestri
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Coscio
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carnicelli
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizzanelli
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iudice
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonanni