Recurrent aphasia with subclinical bioelectric status epilepticus during sleep

We present a six years follow up of a 6 1/2 year-old boy with recurrent aphasia, sporadic emotional regression and a convulsive disorder. The electroencephalogram reading during sleep showed continuous, generalized, hypersynchronous activity without clinical evidence of seizure ("subclinical bioelectric status epilepticus"). Clinical, laboratory and instrumental data revealed no evidence of a morphological lesion of the brain, either space-occupying, inflammatory, degenerative, or autoimmune. Remissions occured with and without anticonvulsant and steroid therapy. The hypothetical location, type, and etiology of the process are discussed. The syndrome appears to represent a functional disorganisation of speech-controlling areas of the brain.