Epilepsia partialis continua of childhood involving bilateral brain hemispheres

Objectives ‐ Epilepsia partialis continua (Kojewnikow's syndrome) can be classified into 2 groups. The 1st group had stable neurological deficit, and the 2nd group had slowly progressive neurological deficit. The latter usually manifests not tetraplegia, but hemiplegia. We describe 3 patients with epilepsia partialis continua, rapid neurological and mental deterioration, resulting in tetraplegia and serious mental deficits within 2 to 3 years from the onset. Results ‐ Their interictal EEGs showed progressive findings of deterioration, which resulted in an inactive pattern or a pattern reminiscent of suppression‐burst within several years. Their cranial CTs revealed rapid progressive atrophy of both hemispheres. Various screening tests failed to confirm a metabolic disease, a degenerative disease, or an infectious disease in the central nervous system. Conclusion ‐ Frequent status epilepticus might contribute to the bilateral brain involvement and the serious neurological and mental outcomes in young patients with epileptia partialis continua.