Jonathan Monin1, Estelle Pruvost-Robieux2, Nicolas Huiban3, Angela Marchi4, Benoit Crepon5, Dominique Dubourdieu6, Eric Perrier6, Martine Gavaret7. 1. Centre principal d'expertise médicale du personnel navigant, hôpital d'Instruction des Armées-Percy, 101, avenue Henri-Barbusse, 92140 Clamart, France. Electronic address: Jonathan.monin@hotmail.fr. 2. Service de neurophysiologie clinique, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Université Paris-Descartes, 12, rue de l'école de médecine, 75006 Paris, France. 3. Centre d'expertise médicale du personnel navigant, hôpital d'Instruction des Armées-Sainte-Anne, 2, boulevard Sainte-Anne, 83000 Toulon, France. 4. Service de neurophysiologie clinique, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Service de physiologie-explorations fonctionnelles, hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, 27, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris, France. 5. Service de neurophysiologie clinique, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France. 6. Centre principal d'expertise médicale du personnel navigant, hôpital d'Instruction des Armées-Percy, 101, avenue Henri-Barbusse, 92140 Clamart, France. 7. Service de neurophysiologie clinique, centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; Université Paris-Descartes, 12, rue de l'école de médecine, 75006 Paris, France; Inserm UMR S894, centre de psychiatrie et neurosciences, rue de la Santé, 75014 Paris, France.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In France, a systematic EEG is performed during initial examination in military aircrew applicants, which may provide an estimation of the prevalence of benign epileptiform variants in healthy adults. METHODS: We analyzed standard EEG (21 scalp electrodes, 20minutes, 400Hz sampling rate) of military aircrew applicants examined in the French Main Aeromedical Center in 2016. EEGs were analyzed using both bipolar and referential montages. The collected data were EEG abnormalities and benign epileptiform variants. The kappa inter-observer index for the detection of benign epileptiform variants was calculated. RESULTS: Our population was composed of 495 subjects (86.7% males, mean age 22.5±4.8 years), wishing to become a pilot in 69.7% of cases. None of the applicants reported any neurological disease and none was taking regular medication. EEG was considered as normal for 96.4% of them. Encountered EEG abnormalities were mainly asymmetric and sharp slow wave bursts. Drowsiness was recorded during 13.9% of these EEG. Benign epileptiform variants were present in 7.7% of our population: anterior theta activities (4%), posterior slow waves (2.8%), alpha variants (0.6%) and wicket spikes (0.2%). Hyperventilation induced EEG slowing in 14.1% of cases. During intermittent photic stimulation, physiological photic driving was observed in 15.2% of subjects. DISCUSSION: Many previous studies have been dedicated to the prevalence of benign epileptiform variants but results are often heterogeneous and based on patients in whom there was an indication for EEG. Our results thus bring data on benign epileptiform variants prevalence in a young adult population characterized by the absence of neurologic disorders. Our study demonstrates that anterior theta activities, posterior slow waves, alpha variants and wicket spikes are the most frequent benign EEG variants in such a young adult population.
INTRODUCTION: In France, a systematic EEG is performed during initial examination in military aircrew applicants, which may provide an estimation of the prevalence of benign epileptiform variants in healthy adults. METHODS: We analyzed standard EEG (21 scalp electrodes, 20minutes, 400Hz sampling rate) of military aircrew applicants examined in the French Main Aeromedical Center in 2016. EEGs were analyzed using both bipolar and referential montages. The collected data were EEG abnormalities and benign epileptiform variants. The kappa inter-observer index for the detection of benign epileptiform variants was calculated. RESULTS: Our population was composed of 495 subjects (86.7% males, mean age 22.5±4.8 years), wishing to become a pilot in 69.7% of cases. None of the applicants reported any neurological disease and none was taking regular medication. EEG was considered as normal for 96.4% of them. Encountered EEG abnormalities were mainly asymmetric and sharp slow wave bursts. Drowsiness was recorded during 13.9% of these EEG. Benign epileptiform variants were present in 7.7% of our population: anterior theta activities (4%), posterior slow waves (2.8%), alpha variants (0.6%) and wicket spikes (0.2%). Hyperventilation induced EEG slowing in 14.1% of cases. During intermittent photic stimulation, physiological photic driving was observed in 15.2% of subjects. DISCUSSION: Many previous studies have been dedicated to the prevalence of benign epileptiform variants but results are often heterogeneous and based on patients in whom there was an indication for EEG. Our results thus bring data on benign epileptiform variants prevalence in a young adult population characterized by the absence of neurologic disorders. Our study demonstrates that anterior theta activities, posterior slow waves, alpha variants and wicket spikes are the most frequent benign EEG variants in such a young adult population.
Authors: Hannah Purtell; Sameer C Dhamne; Sarika Gurnani; Elizabeth Bainbridge; Meera E Modi; Stephen H T Lammers; Chloe E Super; Mustafa Q Hameed; Ervin L Johnson; Mustafa Sahin; Alexander Rotenberg Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2018-11-03 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: Markus Abt; Theo Dinklo; Andreas Rothfuss; Elisabeth Husar; Robert Dannecker; Katja Kallivroussis; Richard Peck; Lucette Doessegger; Christoph Wandel Journal: Clin Pharmacol Ther Date: 2019-05-31 Impact factor: 6.875