Characteristic Features of the Interictal EEG Background in 2 Patients with Malignant Migrating Partial Epilepsy in Infancy

Purpose: To describe chronological electrographic features of the interictal EEG background observed in two patients with malignant migrating partial epilepsy in infancy from neonatal to early infantile period. Methods: EEGs of two patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for malignant migrating partial epilepsy in infancy were acquired over the period of 6 months to monitor treatment efficacy and characterize seizures and other paroxysmal events. Results: Both patients followed a similar sequential pattern. A distinctive evolution from a dysmature term neonatal EEG pattern to an asynchronous suppression burst pattern was observed before the interictal background becoming continuous. Conclusions: Physicians providing care to infants with intractable epilepsy and burst suppression EEG pattern should be alert to the possibility of malignant migrating partial epilepsy in infancy. An earlier diagnosis of malignant migrating partial epilepsy in infancy would help to guide diagnostic workup including genetic testing.