Cardiac asystole masquerading as temporal lobe epilepsy

David M. Ficker, Gregory D. Cascino, Ian P. Clements

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Episodic behavior associated with impairment of consciousness is a protean clinical manifestation that may suggest a wide range of medical or neurologic disorders. We describe a patient whose symptoms of an epigastric 'aura' followed by loss of consciousness suggested temporal lobe epilepsy. The episodic behavior was refractory to antiepileptic drug therapy. Prolonged video-electroencephalographic monitoring confirmed that the clinical events were cardiogenic related to asystole. Antiepileptic drug therapy was discontinued, and a cardiac pacemaker was inserted. The clinical patterns that distinguish syncope from seizures and the importance of prolonged videoelectroencephalographic monitoring are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)784-786
Number of pages3
JournalMayo Clinic proceedings
Volume73
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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