Epilepsia partialis continua associated with levamisole

Pediatr Neurol. 2011 May;44(5):385-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2010.11.020.

Abstract

Epilepsia partialis continua is defined as a spontaneous regular or irregular clonic muscular twitching affecting a limited part of the body, occurring for a minimum of 1 hour and recurring at intervals of less than 10 seconds. Levamisole is used as an immunomodulating medication in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers. Evidence suggests that it can induce multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy. We describe the clinical neuroimaging and ictal electroencephalographic findings in an adolescent with epilepsia partialis continua caused by the administration of levamisole with cortical and subcortical lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the association of epilepsia partialis continua cortical lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging and levamisole that were not previously described.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / adverse effects*
  • Adolescent
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / chemically induced*
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / diagnosis
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / drug effects
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology
  • Humans
  • Levamisole / adverse effects*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Stomatitis, Aphthous / drug therapy

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Levamisole