Status-like recurrent pilomotor seizures: case report and review of the literature
- Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Général de Meaux, 6–8 rue Saint-Fiacre, BP 218, 77108 MEAUX Cedex, France
- Dr F Chédruf-chedru{at}ch-meaux.fr
- Received 26 August 1999
- Revised 15 December 1999
- Accepted 5 January 2000
Abstract
A diabetic 66 year old man who presented with pilomotor seizures in his right hemibody is described. The seizures recurred with an increasing frequency, leading to a status-like condition associated with Korsakoff's syndrome. An EEG was performed and several electroclinical seizures were recorded. Brain MRI was negative. The patient, who was treated with carbamazepine, became seizure free after 1 week. Memory and behaviour gradually returned to normal within 3 weeks. There was no further neurological episode during an 8 year follow up. Hyperosmolar, non-ketotic hyperglycaemia was considered to be the cause of the seizures. The pathophysiology of pilomotor seizures is discussed and the literature on the subject reviewed.
