Alertness and Incidence of Seizures in Patients with Lennox‐Gastaut Syndrome

Abstract

Subjects affected by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (11 males and 5 females, ranging from 5-15 yr of age [mean age, 9 yr 11 mo.]) were followed for periods of 9 mo. to 5 yr 9 mo., and were studied during 3-5 prolonged hospitalizations for total periods of 2-9 mo. with a view to examining the distribution of epileptic seizures during 4 states of vigilance, evaluated from a behavioral point of view: sleep, drowsiness, inactive wakefulness and active wakefulness. The overall average of 406 seizures daily, directly observed, was distributed as follows: 26 (6.40%) during sleep; 128 (31.52%) during drowsiness; 219 (53.94%) during inactive wakefulness; and 33 (8.12%) during active wakefulness. The comparison between the incidence of seizures observed during active wakefulness and those observed during both drowsiness and inactive wakefulness was significant (P < 0.001). The latter 2 states represent, the shortest period of the day (8 h as compared with the 16 h of sleep and active wakefulness), making the results of the comparison even more significant. The importance of a stimulating environment for children affected by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and they point out that an overdose of antiepileptic drugs, not uncommon in the treatment of this syndrome, may make seizures more frequent.