In the nocturnal TLE group, 2 of 26 patients had a positive family history of epilepsy, 18 reported an aura, 4 presented with CPS in clusters, 11 had unilateral and 15 bilateral temporal EEG abnormalities, and 14 of 21 studied had unilateral mesial temporal atrophy. Mean age at seizure onset was similar for both groups (16.3 versus 18.7 years). Clinical and laboratory characteristics of these individuals were studied and compared with a group of 72 age-matched, randomly selected patients with nonlesional TLE and predominantly diurnal seizures (diurnal TLE).
TLE associated with seizures occurring only or predominantly during sleep (nocturnal TLE) is less common.įrom a series of patients with refractory TLE studied between 19, the authors identified 26 patients (15 men) with nonlesional nocturnal TLE (mean age, 40 years). To analyze clinical, electrophysiologic, and neuroradiologic characteristics and prognostic factors in a group of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and complex partial seizures (CPS) occurring exclusively or predominantly after they fall asleep or before they awaken.ĬPS arising during sleep are classically identified with frontal lobe epilepsy.
