Descrevemos os potenciais evocados somatossensitivos obtidos por estimulação dos nervos medianos em um paciente apresentando uma lesão localizada, envolvendo as porções anteromedial e anterolateral do terço superior do bulbo, documentada por ressonância nuclear magnética. Quarenta e um dias após o estabelecimento da lesão os potenciais evocados por estimulação do nervo mediano esquerdo evidenciaram ausência dos componentes P14 e N20 e preservação do componente N18; após estimulação do nervo mediano direito as respostas apresentaram-se normais. Estes achados estão de acordo com a sugestão de que as porções baixas do bulbo estão envolvidas na geração do componente N18.

Median nerve SEPs recorded from a patient with a high medullary lesion are described. The lesion involved the anteromedial and anterolateral right upper third of the medulla, as documented by MRI. Forty one days after the lesion, left median nerve SEP showed preserved N18 and absent P14 and N20 components; stimulation of the right median nerve evoked normal responses. These findings agree with the proposition that low medullary levels are involved in the generation of the N18 component of the median nerve SEP.

Os autores relatam duas observações clínicas sendo mãe e filha portadoras de crises de coreoatetose, iniciadas aos 6 e 2 anos de idade com o diagnóstico de entidade rara: a coreoatetose paroxística familiar. São descritas as características clínicas e terapêuticas e são referidos casos na literatura.

The authors present two cases of a very rare condition known as familial paroxysmal choreoathetosis. The patients, mother and daughter, were 28 and 8 years old and the disease started when they were 6 and 2 year-old, respectively. The paroxystic involuntary movements were generalized, producing speech and gait disturbances, without any impairment of consciousness. The duration of the episodes lasted 30 to 180 minutes. The paroxysmals occasionaly could be triggered by physical stress or alcohol intake. The neurological examination and the electroencephalogram during free intervals were normal. Searching the available literature these twq cases could be classified as belonging to the same form described by Mount and Reback, in 1940.

The authors have used the 4560 R.P. (Rhodia Laboratories), intramuscularly, in dosis of 25 mg. and have analized the results according to its influence (a) in the basic electrical activity of the EEG, (b) in the activity of epileptogenic lesions and (c) in the patient's sedation, mainly in those patients who present emotional tension or anxiety, or who are non cooperatives. The authors found that the drug in this dosis does not have influence in the basic rhythm of the EEG nor in the activity of epileptogenic foci; as sedative, the drug has presented diverse results and they cannot yet be conclusive. Since the drug does not affect the basic record nor change the epileptic activity, it can be used as coadjuvant in the routine EEG of patients suspects of being epileptics.