Long QT syndrome presenting as a seizure.
A 21-year-old woman was brought to the emergency department after being found unconscious in a hotel lobby. On presentation, she was awake but confused. The initial evaluation revealed no evidence of trauma, metabolic abnormality, drug ingestion, or intracranial process. The only abnormality noted was electrocardiographic, and included a long QT interval as well as occasional atrial and junctional beats within a normal sinus rhythm. While in the department the patient developed tonic-clonic activity and was concurrently noted to have developed ventricular tachycardia. A precordial thump was given with the simultaneous cessation of the arrythmia and the seizure. After definitive electrophysiologic study, the diagnosis of long QT syndrome was made. Treatment consisting of beta blockade and pacemaker insertion prevented further arrythmia or seizure activity. Long QT syndrome should be considered a possible etiology in any patient presenting with new onset seizures, especially in the young.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago.
L L
LL
Herman
M
M
Stoshak
T J
TJ
Rittenberry
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists