title: Altered mental status in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is secondary to nonconvulsive status epilepticus.
abstract: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a syndrome with numerous neurological manifestations including altered mental status and seizures. At least 10% of the patients with TTP seen at our institution had nonconvulsive status epilepticus as a cause of or associated with their altered mental status. We propose that altered mental status secondary to nonconvulsive status epilepticus requiring electroencephalographic diagnosis and antiepileptic medication occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with TTP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Bleck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013826:Theta Rhythm