title: Changes in Standard Electroencephalograms Parallel Consciousness Improvements in Patients With Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome.
abstract: To identify changes in the standard electroencephalograms (EEGs) of patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) who did or did not recover consciousness 6 months after admission to a rehabilitation department.
  
  
  
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  
  Unit for severe acquired brain injuries.
  
  
  
  Consecutive patients with UWS (N=28).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  EEG amplitude (reduced or normal), dominant frequency (alpha, theta, or delta), and reactivity (absent or present) were scored at admission and 6 months later. The cumulative Amplitude-Frequency-Reactivity score was evaluated. Clinical assessments were made using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised.
  
  
  
  Sixteen (57.1%) of the 28 patients with UWS recovered consciousness after 6 months, while 12 patients (42.9%) did not recover consciousness. EEG improvements occurred in 14 patients with consciousness recovery (87.5%) and 2 patients without consciousness recovery (16.7%) only. Improvements in EEG dominant frequency (from the theta to the alpha band or from the delta to the theta band), reappearance of EEG reactivity, and Amplitude-Frequency-Reactivity score increase (P<.01) differentiated patients with consciousness improvement from those without consciousness improvement. Six months after admission for rehabilitation, patients with EEG improvements showed higher Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores than did those without EEG changes (P<.01).
  
  
  
  Most patients who emerge from UWS demonstrate improvement in basic EEG characteristics over time. EEG changes in patients with UWS may aid in the timely recognition of patients transitioning into a minimally conscious state.
authors: Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy. Electronic address: sergiobagnato@gmail.com.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Bagnato
authors: Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Boccagni
authors: Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Prestandrea
authors: BM-Science - Brain and Mind Technologies Research Center, Espoo, Finland.
authors: Alexander A
authors: AA
authors: Fingelkurts
authors: BM-Science - Brain and Mind Technologies Research Center, Espoo, Finland.
authors: Andrew A
authors: AA
authors: Fingelkurts
authors: Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Galardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Consciousness disorders; Electroencephalography; Prognosis; Rehabilitation