title: Spasticity as an ictal pattern due to excitotoxic upper motor neuron damage.
abstract: We describe the case of a man who presented with spasticity and aphasia related to continuous electroencephalographic epileptic activity in the left frontal-temporal regions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) documented in diffusion-weighted images (DWI) two areas of restricted diffusion in the left frontal and temporal cortex. After starting treatment with levetiracetam 3000 mg/day there was progressive recovery of the clinical picture as well as the gradual disappearance of the electroencephalographic seizure activity and the vanishing of areas of restricted diffusion in brain MRI. Based on the clinical, EEG and MRI data, we hypothesized that both aphasia and spasticity represented ictal signs. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of ictal spasticity.
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiopathology Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marciani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Placidi
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romigi
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000150:complications*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology