title: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus disguising as hepatic encephalopathy.
abstract: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus has become an important issue in modern neurology and epileptology. This is based on difficulty in definitively elucidating the condition and its various clinical phenomena and on our inadequate insight into the intrinsic pathophysiological processes. Despite nonconvulsive status epilepticus being a situation that requires immediate treatment, this disorder may not be appreciated as the cause of mental status impairment. Although the pathophysiology of nonconvulsive status epilepticus remains unknown, this disorder is thought to lead to neuronal damage, so its identification and treatment are important. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with liver cirrhosis presenting an altered mental status. We report a case of a 52-year-old male with liver cirrhosis presenting an altered mental status. He was initially diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy but ultimately diagnosed with nonconvulsive status epilepticus by electroencephalogram.
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Yong Min Jo, Sung Wook Lee, Sang Young Han, Yang Hyun Baek, Ji Hye Ahn, Won Jong Choi, Ji Young Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byeol A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Electroencephalogram; Hepatic encephalopathy; Liver cirrhosis; Nonconvulsive status epilepticus