[Benign focal epilepsy and "electrical status epilepticus" during sleep (author's transl)]

The authors describe the electro-clinical state of four children having a type of epilepsy clinically characterized by rare partial motor seizures and frequent absences. From E.E.G. point of view they had focal (mainly frontal) and diffuse abnormalities. Such diffuse abnormalities became continuous during slow sleep, thus realizing an electrical status epilepticus. During such status partial subclinical seizures were recorded. At the onset such cases have electroclinical features resembling those observed in the form of epilepsy so-called "benign partial epilepsy of children with rolandic or mid-temporal foci". All cases, however, have behavioural problems (instability, desorientation) and decreased school performances. The epilepsy evolution, however, is favourable and such form should consequently be distinguished from the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.