INTRODUCTION
Nonketotic hyperglycemia–related seizures are not uncommonly encountered in clinical practice. Their presentation varies, and they may cause serious consequences if they remain unnoticed.
CASE
We report a case of nonketotic hyperglycemia-related seizures of unique left parieto-occipital origin and semiology, presenting as focal aware (simple partial) and impaired awareness (complex partial) seizures, including contralateral limb convulsion and apraxialike behavior.
DISCUSSION
Nonketotic hyperglycemia–related seizures can present with a relatively unique semiology. Careful education to the patients and family regarding attention to the paroxysmal symptoms and an effort to maintain good glycemic control are mandatory in clinical practice.
Diagnosing non-convulsive seizures (NCSs) is a great challenge for most clinicians due to a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. The complexity of the disease course usually results in a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis so that timely and appropriate treatment is not given. Herein, we report a case with NCSs misdiagnosed as vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI), in which the patient suffered from episodes of prominent dizziness, vertigo, becoming transfixed, and worsening response within a day. Brain magnetic resonance image findings were unremarkable, however electroencephalography (EEG) showed rhythmic epileptiform discharges that appeared to originate from the right frontal area with ipsilateral hemispheric involvement. We prescribed intravenous valproate and the seizures ceased. Few studies have reported a patient with NCS misdiagnosed with VBI, a very different entity. It is thus important that clinicians should be aware of the trivial symptoms of NCSs, and to consider implementing early EEG studies and anti-epileptic drug therapy.
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