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  • Title: [Alpha coma--a prognostic sign?].
    Author: Djordjević D, Jovicić A, Mihajlović M, Kitanoski B, Marenović T, Raicević R.
    Journal: Vojnosanit Pregl; 1998; 55(1):91-4. PubMed ID: 9612132.
    Abstract:
    We present a patient who has developed cardiac arrest after penetrating cardiac wound and consequent coma, with EEG characteristics of alpha coma. At the same time, auditory evoked potentials-brainstem (AEPB), subcortical and cortical were not within physiological range. During the sixth day of coma, alfa rhythm was substituted with theta and delta frequency, followed by the decreased amplitude and prolonged latency of AEPB and complete absence of cortical and subcortical responses. Lethal outcome occurred in the fifth week of coma with neurophysiological characteristics of complete brain dysfunction. Alpha coma, with EEG presentation that only resemble the normal neurophysiological cortical activity, is rather rare neurophysiological finding present mostly in cardiac arrest, metabolic disturbances and intoxication. It is probably caused by pathological pacers of alfa rhythm, so clinical presentation of alfa coma, specially in a case of cardiac arrest, does not predict a favourable outcome.
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