Complex partial seizures of hippocampal and amygdalar origin.
We studied the first clinical manifestations of 72 complex partial seizures (CPS) in 17 drug-resistant patients. CPS were indicated to be of hippocampal-amygdalar origin by scalp and depth EEG. We asked: (a) Do all CPS of hippocampal-amygdalar origin start with an initial motionless stare and/or oroalimentary automatisms? (b) If not, what other clinical manifestations appear at onset of the CPS? Results showed that approximately 39% of CPS begin with motionless staring, 25% with nonfocal discrete movements, 21% with oroalimentary automatisms, 10% with perseverative stereotyped automatisms, and 6% with vocalizations. Nonfocal discrete movements and oroalimentary automatisms were identified as the most common second and third clinical sequential manifestations during a CPS. We conclude that although approximately 60% of CPS of hippocampal-amygdalar origin start with motionless staring or oroalimentary automatisms, 40% do not.
Maldonado
H M
HM
Veterans Administration Southwest Regional Epilepsy Center, Los Angeles, California.
Delgado-Escueta
A V
AV
Walsh
G O
GO
Swartz
B E
BE
Rand
R W
RW
D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001332:Automatism / Q000209:etiology; D001519:Behavior; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D013060:Speech