Rapidly progressive cognitive impairment with neuropsychiatric symptoms as the initial manifestation of status epilepticus

Jorge A. Mutis, Jesús H. Rodríguez, Mauricio O. Nava-Mesa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

© 2016 The AuthorsThe purpose of this article is to describe the clinical and electroencephalographic features of patients diagnosed with non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) with uncommon cognitive and behavioral involvement. We present two cases with sub-acute cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disorders (including anxiety and transient behavioral changes) as their first manifestation of NCSE. A neuropsychological profile demonstrated executive dysfunction. In addition, the neurological examination revealed automatisms and 24-hour video EEG showed epileptiform activity. Although neuroimaging studies showed frontotemporal abnormalities, both neurophysiological and cognitive improvement after specific antiseizure drug treatment confirmed the diagnosis of non-convulsive status. Theoretical considerations between mental status changes and focal epilepsy will be reviewed. Our cases raise awareness of the importance of considering NCSE, a treatable condition, in the differential diagnosis of rapidly-progressive cognitive impairment with neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)20-23
Number of pages4
JournalEpilepsy and Behavior Case Reports
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2017

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