Fourteen and six c/sec positive bursts in comatose patients.

Of ten patients with Reye's syndrome, there were five with stage II or III coma where EEGs revealed 14 c/sec positive bursts in a background of diffuse delta waves. Positive bursts disappeared upon EEG improvement in two survivors and when the EEG became nearly isoelectric in two other patients. Although 14 and 6 c/sec positive bursts are seen commonly during sleep in normal young persons, their occurence in association with diffuse delta waves in acutely ill, comatose patients has been rarely reported. It is not certain whether the present findings should be regarded as selective preservation of a type of sleep pattern or whether there are special factors that enhance positive bursts in stage II or III coma of Reye's syndrome.