Periodic Discharges

Posted on
October 11, 2024
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Periodic Discharges

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References: Greenfield, John, L. et al. Reading EEGs: A Practical Approach. Available from: Wolters Kluwer, (2nd Edition). Wolters Kluwer Health, 2020.

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Periodic discharges (PDs) are the repetition of a waveform with relatively uniform morphology and duration, with a quantifiable inter-discharge interval between consecutive waveforms, and recurrence of the waveform at nearly regular intervals.

Periodic: Applies to: (1) EEG waves or complexes occurring in a sequence at an approximately regular rate, (2) EEG waves or complexes occurring intermittently at approximately regular intervals, generally of one to several seconds. PDs may be generalized (GPDs), lateralized (LPDs), bilateral independent (BIPDs).

Old nomenclature for these new terms are GPEDs (=GPDs), PLEDs (=LPDs) and BIPLEDs (=BIPDs). The use of ‘‘epileptiform” as an interpretative term is now avoided, since these periodic patterns may or may not be associated with clinical seizures (Hirsch et al., 2013).

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Question:
Clinical myoclonus is time-locked to the periodic discharges in which of the following?
A
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
B
Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease
C
Generalized periodic discharges
D
Periodic lateralized discharges
E
Correct Answer: 
A

Clinical myoclonus is time-locked to the periodic discharges in SSPE, but not necessarily in CJD. Myoclonus is less commonly seen with PLD and GPD.

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