title: Late onset epilepsy associated with marijuana abuse: a case report with MRI findings.
abstract: Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the world. The relation between marijuana use and epileptic seizures is still controversial. We report a case of late onset epilepsy associated with marijuana abuse, with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. A 44-year-old patient was admitted for 03 isolated episodes of secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. He had a history of 26 years regular marijuana smoking. On admission, we found a tachycardia, psychomotor slowing, asymmetric hyperreflexia, bilateral Babinski sign without weakness. Laboratory work-up showed a high level of urine of Δ-9-tétrahydroxycannabinol. Electroencephalogram was normal. Brain MRI revealed abnormal signal intensities in the right frontal lobe and basal ganglia. Seizures cessation was obtained with anti-epileptic treatment. We suggest that marijuana abuse through vascular and toxic mechanisms could explain seizures in this case.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Fann teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Yannick Fogoum
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Fogang
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Fann teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Massaman
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Fann teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Paul Chimi
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Mbonda
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Fann teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Dènahin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toffa
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Fann teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Kamadore
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Touré
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Symptomatic epilepsy; intracerebral haemorrhage; marijuana