Chapter 13 - Acute Encephalopathy With Febrile Convulsive Status Epilepticus (AEFCSE)

Abstract

In 2000, we proposed the term “acute encephalopathy with febrile convulsive status epilepticus (AEFCSE)” as a subtype of acute encephalopathy associated with influenza virus infection. The clinical features of AEFCSE are characterized by “early seizures” and “late seizures” occurring as repetitive convulsive seizures after transient period of altered consciousness. The magnetic resonance imaging diffusion weighted shows a “bright tree appearance” with dendritic high signal lesions in the subcortical white matter. There are similarities with the condition described by Takanashi et al. as acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion. Thus, this subtype of acute encephalopathy is commonly described as acute encephalopathy (biphasic) with febrile convulsive status epilepticus in Japan. This subtype has been rarely reported from regions other than Japan, although it is the most common subtype of acute encephalopathy in infancy and childhood.