[Epilepsia partialis continua of Kozevnikov (author's transl)]

Continuous myoclonus in a localised area of the body was observed in three patients. In two cases the myocloni sometimes developed into motor Jacksonian convulsions. All three patients had neurological signs on the same side as their continuous twitching indicating a lesion of the contralateral hemisphere. The surface EEG did not show changes which could be directly correlated with continuous convulsions in any of the cases. The cause was found to be a malformation of the hemisphere in one case, a recent encephalomalacia in the second and a severe hyperosomolar diabetic electrolyte imbalance in the third. Epilepsia partialis continua Kozevnikov differs from motor Jacksonian epilepsy in the continuous non-attack character and the absence of a "march of convulsions". Pathophysiologically they are both forms of focal cortical status epilepticus.