[Limbic system and partial seizures with psychoaffective signs].
BACKGROUND
The limbic system, is associate to emotional behavior. Partial epileptic seizures are the expression of alterations of the temporal lobe, hippocampus and amygdala. In nonconvulsive episodes, autonomic alterations, visceral dysfunction and abnormal emotional states illustrate epileptic symptomatology. Fear responses, with possible connections to amygdala are presents in partial epileptic seizures.


METHODS
We present five patients with symptomatology mainly in emotional expression. Four had a structural lesion: one, multiple phacomatosis, two, tumors of the amygdala region (ganglioglioma) and one, a pineal cyst. The fifth child lacking a structural lesion, showed spike waves in the temporal lobe.


CONCLUSIONS
It is essential to search for structural or functional alterations in patients with paroxysmal fear reactions, as probable partial crisis with psychoaffective manifestation.
Grippo
J
J
Servicio Neurología Infanto-Juvenil; Hospital de Niños R. Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina. grippo@fibertel.com.ar
Corral
M S
MS
Grippo
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000150:complications; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020752:Neurocutaneous Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants