Abstract
Background: Paroxysmal fast activity (PFA) is defined by fast paroxysmal events in the electroencephalogram (EEG), usually associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Our aims were to verify the frequency of LGS and non-LGS in EEGs with PFA; and to correlate the EEG features (spatial distribution, frequency, amplitude and duration) between the two clinical groups.
 Methods: We analyzed 38 EEG tracings with PFA from 38 patients. We evaluated the spatial distribution, frequency, amplitude and duration of fast paroxysms. The two clinical groups (LGS and non-LGS) were statistically compared relative to the EEG data.
 Results: With regard to epileptic syndromes, 23 patients (60%) were classified as LGS and 15 patients (40%) as non-LGS. Concerning spatial distribution, our results showed that 86.8% of the examinations showed symmetrical PFA and 13.2% showed asymmetrical PFA. The statistical analysis did not show any difference between the two groups regarding the EEG spatial distribution or other EEG data.
 Conclusions: PFA can occur in other epileptic syndromes apart from LGS. The EEG features did not offer any distinction between the two clinical groups. The PFA is not a specific EEG marker of LGS.
Highlights
Paroxysmal fast activity (PFA) is defined by fast paroxysmal events in the electroencephalogram (EEG), usually associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS)
The PFA is known as an essential feature for the diagnosis of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) [4]
Our objectives were the following: to verify the frequency of patients with LGS and patients with other epileptic syndromes in EEG that presented PFA; to evaluate the EEG characteristics of PFA; to compare our results between the two groups; and, to correlate the EEG data obtained from the two clinical groups (LGS and non-LGS) with the etiology
Summary
Paroxysmal fast activity (PFA) is defined by fast paroxysmal events in the electroencephalogram (EEG), usually associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Our aims were to verify the frequency of LGS and non-LGS in EEGs with PFA; and to correlate the EEG features (spatial distribution, frequency, amplitude and duration) between the two clinical groups. The PFA is known as an essential feature for the diagnosis of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) [4]. It has been sporadically found in other epileptic encephalopathies and even in focal epilepsies. Our objectives were the following: to verify the frequency of patients with LGS and patients with other epileptic syndromes (non-LGS) in EEG that presented PFA; to evaluate the EEG characteristics of PFA (spatial distribution, amplitude, frequency and duration); to compare our results between the two groups; and, to correlate the EEG data obtained from the two clinical groups (LGS and non-LGS) with the etiology (symptomatic and non-symptomatic)
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