[Comparative evaluation of seizure provocation methods with sleep deprivation and Brietal in epileptics]

In 10 patients with suspected epilepsy in whom routine EEG investigations failed to demonstrate changes the sleep deprivation method and intravenous injection of 1% Brietal solution were used as provocation methods. The efficiency of both methods was compared. In cases in which sleep deprivation provoked appearance of pathological changes Brietal gave a similar result but evoked more frequently the manifestation of focal changes. In cases in which sleep deprivation was ineffective Brietal provoked slight changes in some cases only. Both methods may be used for provocation and Brietal may be more suitable in cases with suspected focal lesions.