Abstract
Objectives: To describe clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) features and investigate their correlation in patients with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE), aiming to support timely diagnosis, prognosis, and management.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 41 patients diagnosed with CSE at the Neurology Center of Bach Mai Hospital between December 2024 and May 2025. Clinical data (age, sex, history, seizure type, consciousness, seizure duration) and EEG findings (wave types, distribution, symmetry, background activity) were analyzed and compared.
Results: The mean age was 52.9 ± 20.6 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.16. Most common clinical symptoms included seizures (92.7%), altered consciousness (26.8%), fever (22.0%), aphasia (12.2%), hemiparesis (12.2%), psychiatric disturbances (9.8%), memory impairment (14.6%), headache (14.6%), and personality changes (2.4%). Focal impaired awareness seizures accounted for 75.6% of cases. Most EEGs showed abnormalities; slowing was most common (92.7%), followed by rhythmic activity (70.7%) and epileptiform discharges (63.4%). No significant correlation was found between seizure duration (≥ 5 minutes) and EEG abnormalities; however, ongoing seizures at the time of EEG were significantly associated with epileptiform discharges, rhythmic activity, and periodic discharges.
Conclusion: Clinical and EEG features in CSE patients are highly variable. EEG plays a crucial role in confirming ongoing seizure activity after convulsions, particularly in non-convulsive phases. Combining detailed clinical examination with EEG improves diagnostic accuracy and guides treatment.
