PARTIAL SEIZURES PRESENTED AS APNEA IN AN ADULT

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 17(3); 1999 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1999;17(3): 416-419.

무호흡증으로 나타난 어른의 부분발작 1례

이향운, 홍승봉, 서대원

성균관대학교 의과대학부속 삼성의료원 신경과

PARTIAL SEIZURES PRESENTED AS APNEA IN AN ADULT

Hyang Woon Lee, M.D., Seung Bong Hong, M.D., Dae Won Seo, M.D. Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine

Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50, Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-ku, Seoul, 135-710

Abstract

Although several cases of apneic seizures have been reported in neonates, epileptic seizures presented with apnea only in adults are very rare. We present a 19-year-old man who suffered from viral encephalitis and frequent episodes of apneic seizures. Ictal EEGs, recorded during apneic episodes, showed repetitive sharp waves or rhythmic theta activ-ities arising from the left or right independent bitemporal region. Ictal SPECT was performed during one episode of apnea accompanied by ictal EEG discharges arising from the left posterior temporal area. Ictal-interictal subtraction SPECT coregistered with MRI revealed that the seizures were originated from the left posterior mid-lateral temporal cortex. Previous studies, with ictal EEG or brain stimulation, suggested that apneic seizures might be mediated through the limbic and the associated cortical systems. This is a very rare case of partial seizures presented with apnea in an adult patient, which was supported by ictal EEG and ictal-interictal subtraction SPECT coregistered with MRI. J Kor Neurol Ass 17(3):416 ~ 419, 1999 Key Words : Apneic seizure, Encephalitis, Limbic, Temporal lobe, Subtraction SPECT