[Convulsive syncope then convulsive seizure occurred in the long clinical course: a case report]

Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2020 Sep 29;60(9):627-630. doi: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-001451. Epub 2020 Aug 8.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 17-year-old woman presented with transient consciousness impairment attack and convulsion after bathing and prolonged standing since age 12. EEG showed WHAM ( wake, high amplitude, anterior, male) type of phantom spikes that usually carry the high risk of epilepsy at age 13. At age 17, EEG wise generalized spike and wave complex was recorded once, and head-up tilt test was positive. She was carefully observed without antiepileptic drugs since convulsive syncope due to neurally mediated syncope was most likely. During the follow-up period, she had eventually unprovoked generalized tonic-clonic seizures (convulsive seizure) twice and thus she was started with antiepileptic drug with success. Although both convulsive syncope and convulsive seizure differ in nature and effects on quality of life, in this patient, the latter occurred later and both occurs together. It is important to distinguish them by means of the degree of convulsion and EEG finding.

Keywords: convulsive seizure; convulsive syncope; neurally mediated syncope; phantom spike and waves; transient consciousness impairment attack.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Recurrence
  • Seizures / complications*
  • Seizures / diagnosis*
  • Seizures / drug therapy
  • Syncope / complications*
  • Syncope / diagnosis*
  • Syncope / drug therapy
  • Tilt-Table Test
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants