Cough syncope misinterpreted as epileptic seizure.
Cough syncopes are rare but may be one of the cause of sudden loss of consciousness. We recorded under video-EEG monitoring a typical syncope triggered by voluntary coughing (video) and Valsava maneuvre in a patient referred for the diagnosis of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. There were no signs of active epilepsy. The attacks were associated with overweight, obstructive sleep apnea and heavy consumption of cigarettes. [Published with video sequences].
Gelisse
Philippe
P
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Functional Genomics, CNRS UMR5203 - INSERM U661 - UM1, Montpellier, France. p-gelisse@chu-montepellier.fr
Genton
Pierre
P
D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver