The Neuropathology of Status Epilepticus

Abstract

A description is given of the clinical and neuropathological findings in eleven cases of status epilepticus in young children. The distribution of ischaemic nerve cell changes in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, conform to the pattern of post-ictal brain damage described by Scholz. The same changes are found in brains showing oedema as in those without. Reasons are given for discounting the theory that vascular compression plays a decisive part in the pathogenesis of this type of encephalopathy.