Encephalopathy with epileptic spasms resolved with corticoids in a 69 year-old patient.
A 69 year-old man with a history of recent temporal lobe seizures, presented with progressive coma and frequent epileptic spasms. Ictal EEG, PET and SPECT alterations were strikingly similar to those described in infantile spasms. Conventional antiepileptic drugs were ineffective but the introduction of corticoids induced a dramatic improvement with disappearance of the spasms. The etiology remains unknown. Epileptic spasms may occur in the elderly. If conventional antiepileptic drugs are ineffective, corticoids should be tried immediately.
Maton
B
B
Department of Neurology, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland.
Picard
F
F
Njamshi
A
A
Roth
S
S
Slosman
D
D
Sztajzel
R
R
Jallon
P
P
Landis
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone