Treatment of electrical status epilepticus by short diazepam (DZP) cycles after DZP rectal bolus test.

The effects of rapid rectal diazepam introduction (DZP test) were investigated in 43 patients (age range 5 months-14 years) with electrical status epilepticus (ESE) undergoing EEG monitoring. A remission of the paroxysmal activity was obtained in 58% of cases, a negative response in 42%, particularly in hypsarrhythmic patterns. DZP test responders were aged over 12 months with organized paroxysmal EEG patterns, in particular with ESE during sleep (ESES).