Clinical Significance of Generalized Periodic Discharges in the Critically Ill

Detection of GPDs is associated with risk for nonconvulsive seizures, but is not independently predictive of worse outcome.

In contrast to periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs), the clinical significance of generalized periodic discharges (GPDs) remains unclear. With more common usage of continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) monitoring in intensive care units, the question of what to do when GPDs are detected is being asked increasingly often in clinical practice. Now, researchers have assessed the significance of GPDs in a retrospective case-control study of 200 patients with GPDs and controls — patients without GPDs who underwent cEEG during the same study period and were matched to cases by age, category of presenting illness, and level of consciousness. GPDs were defined as “any pattern of synchronous (bihemispheric), repetitive discharges …

Reviewing Author

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)