Epilepsy with electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep with a focus on electroencephalographic criteria

The authors present a detailed literature review, devoted to epilepsy with electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep (ESES), as well as own data. The issues of classification, etiology, ESES diagnostic criteria, aproaches to therapy and prognosis are discussed in the article. Authors pay particular attention to the description of electroencephalographic abnormalities in patients with ESES including changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) during seizures and in the intetictal period (first of all during sleep). EEG during sleep is crucial in case of ESES, it is necessary for diagnosis. 20 % of the patients have no epileptic seizures; the diagnosis is based on the EEG results and neuropsychological testing. Continuous spike-and- wave epileptiform activity on EEG during slow-wave sleep is a compulsory diagnostic criterion for ESES. This activity defines the clinical spectrum of cognitive and behavioral discorders in patients with this disease.