Sleep disorders: a sometimes forgotten cause of nonepileptic spells.
We present a patient with spells of loss of awareness in which the initial diagnostic consideration was partial epilepsy. The patient underwent video-EEG long-term monitoring which raised suspicion of nonepileptic events, but could not exclude simple partial seizures. A failed therapeutic trial with antiepileptic medication and adverse events prompted reevaluation of the case. Sleep studies, including polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT), confirmed a sleep disorder, i.e., narcolepsy, which responded to specific therapy with resolution of the spells.
Mihaescu
Mihaela
M
Michael S. Aldrich Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2100 Pierce Avenue, 320 MCS, 37212-3375, Nashville, TN, USA
Malow
Beth A
BA
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM; D014743:Videotape Recording
D000927:Anticonvulsants