title: Epileptic seizure presenting as dementia with Lewy bodies.
abstract: Psychotic symptoms and cognitive fluctuation are common manifestations of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, the differentiation of these symptoms is difficult because many psychiatric, neurologic, and medical conditions in addition to drug effects can mimic DLB in elderly people. We report on an 83-year-old woman who complained of vivid, recurrent visual hallucinations associated with fluctuating cognition. The patient was diagnosed as probable DLB. However, laboratory findings were consistent with an epileptic phenomenon and the patient improved completely with use of anti-epileptic drugs. This case illustrates the fact that epileptic seizure may cause symptoms that mimic DLB, and clinicians should consider an epileptic condition as a differential diagnosis for elderly patients with psychiatric symptoms and fluctuating cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: neuronet@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Joong-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Dementia with Lewy bodies; Epileptic seizure