ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF THE ENCEPHALOPATHIES

Abstract

THE PRESENT report is the fourth in a series depicting the serial electroencephalographic (EEG) changes in the encephalopathies. Previous publications have been concerned with the chemical, 1 granulomatous 2 (tuberculosis), and viral 3 (measles) diseases of the brain. The present study comprises a serial analysis of 50 cases of meningococcic meningitis collected over a five-year period. Clinical observations and EEG correlations were made and are recorded. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to demonstrate the EEG and clinical correlation in a purulent meningitis (meningococcus) and (2) to contrast the electrocerebral alterations with that seen in tuberculous meningitis. The principles of dynamic electroencephalography have been described elsewhere. 4 In all encephalopathies of significant severity the nonspecific response of the brain to injury is the appearance of delta activity. The persistence, evanescence, or replacement of this activity by other wave forms aids in the clinical evaluation of such syndromes. METHODS