POSTANOXIC THETA AND ALPHA-PATTERN COMA

Theta pattern coma is a rare EEG finding, described in the course of post-anoxic or posttraumatic coma and interpreted as a “malignant” variant of alpha pattern coma. A case of isolated theta pattern coma, followed by alpha pattern coma is reported. Short temporal succession of such patterns would seem to confirm the hypothesis of a close relationship between them. Possible physiological mechanisms involved in the generation of the patterns are discussed. © 1994, EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.