Skip to main content
Log in

Recurrent aphasia with subclinical bioelectric status epilepticus during sleep

  • Case Reports
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present a six years follow up of a 6 1/2 year-old boy with recurrent aphasia, sporadic emotional regression and a convulsive disorder. The electroencephalogram reading during sleep showed continuous, generalized, hypersynchronous activity without clinical evidence of seizure (“subclinical bioelectric status epilepticus”). Clinical, laboratory and instrumental data revealed no evidence of a morphological lesion of the brain, either spaceoccupying, inflammatory, degenerative, or autoimmune. Remissions occured with and without anticonvulsant and steroid therapy. The hypothetical location, type, and etiology of the process are discussed. The syndrome appears to represent a functional disorganisation of speech-controlling areas of the brain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brodal, A.: Neurological anatomy in relation to clinical medicine. 2. Ed. New York-London-Toronto: Oxford University Press Inc. 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Deonna, Th., Beaumanoir, A., Gaillard, F., Assal, G.: Acquired Aphasia in Childhood with Seizure disorder: A heterogeneous syndrome. Neuropädiatrie 8, 263–273 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, T. E., Howse, D. C., Plum, F.: Cerebral Energy Metabolism during Experimental status Epilepticus. J. Neurochem. 24, 925–934 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • McKinney, W., McGreal, D. A.: An aphasic syndrome in children. Canad. Med. Ass. J. 110, 637–639 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Landau, W. M., Kleffner, F. R.: Syndrome of acquired aphasia with convulsive disorder in children. Neurology 7, 523–530 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojemann, G. A., Ward, A. A.: Speech representation in ventrolateral thalamus. Brain 94, 669–680 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Patry, G., Lyagoubi, S., Tassinari, C. A.: Subclinical “electrical status epilepticus” induced by sleep in children. Arch. Neurol. 24, 242–252 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pötzl, O.: Über sensorische Aphasie, im Kindesalter. Z. Hals-, Nasen-und Ohrenheilk. 14, 190–216 (1926)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, F. C.: Receptive aphasia in childhood. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 32, 65 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassinari, C. A., Dravet, C., Roger, J.: Encephalopathy related to electrical status epilepticus during slow sleep. Electroenc. Clin. Neurophysiol. 43, 529–530 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasterlain, C. G.: Inhibition of cerebral protein synthesis by epileptic seizures without motor manifestations. Neurology 24, 175–180 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kellermann, K. Recurrent aphasia with subclinical bioelectric status epilepticus during sleep. Eur J Pediatr 128, 207–212 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00444306

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00444306

Key words

Navigation