Serum neuron specific enolase: a marker for neuronal dysfunction in children with continuous EEG epileptiform activity.

Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a common complication of the childhood epileptic encephalopathies. An essential feature for the diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus is a continuous epileptiform activity on the electroencephalogram (EEG). Dementia is thought to be a possible long-term sequel of non-convulsive status epilepticus, the mechanism of which has remained elusive. Neuron specific enolase is a marker of neuronal damage. The serum concentration of neuron specific enolase (sNSE) has been measured in 17 children with continuous epileptiform activity on the EEG and in 16 children with epilepsy but without a continuous dysrhythmia. There was a significant difference in the concentration of sNSE between the two groups.