[Influence between sleep and epilepsy: synopsis and prospectus]

The authors studied the possible theories on the function of the sleep and provided specific information on its representation. They believe useful the hypnogram in monitoring on the pathophysiology of the processes characterized by clinical and subclinical sleep involvement. The continuous and simultaneous registration of the sleep activities by polysomnography have been developed for the evaluation of neurologic diseases with various technique applications: electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and electroculography (EOG). Cyiclic Alternative Pattern (CAP) represents two alternate phases of partial awakening followed from deepened sleeping. Besides CAP rate measures percentage of CAP relative to the quiet sleep or non-Rapid Eyes Movement (non-REM) sleep. There is an intimate relationship between sleep and epilepsy. Sleep is an important activator of interictal epileptiform discharges. The localization of the primary epileptogenic area is more reliable in REM sleep than in wakefulness, and in wakefulness more than in slow-wave sleep. The authors also discuss the role of sleep and sleep deprivation in the EEG evaluation of epilepsy.