title: Epileptic seizures associated with intrathecal baclofen application.
abstract: We report the clinical and EEG findings in three patients presenting with seizures associated with intrathecal baclofen application for treatment of spasticity. All patients had a history of traumatic brain injury, while one patient also suffered a spinal cord injury. Two patients experienced their first seizure following intrathecal baclofen test bolus injection. Another patient had convulsions on two occasions: following postoperative baclofen dose adjustment, and after sleep deprivation. Structural brain disease seems prerequisite for baclofen to exert epileptogenic activity, since seizures have not occurred in patients receiving intrathecal baclofen for spasticity of solely spinal origin. Antiepileptic medication permitted the continuation of intrathecal baclofen treatment in the three patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kronenberg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rifici
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saltuari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001418:Baclofen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001418:Baclofen