Clinical study of seven patients with special syndrome of post-epileptic dysfunction persisting over 24 hours

N. Yang, B.-G. Wang, W.-Y. Zeng, Y. Zhong, X.-S. Cai, L.-Q. Zheng, Z.-Y. Wu, F. Wang

Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University of TCM, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China. wbg2001qq@126.com

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• Neurology

OBJECTIVE: Todd’s paralysis is the most common complication after epileptic seizures, especially status epilepticus, but other disabilities deriving from the postictal state are poorly understood. There is relatively little information on the underlying parameters that affect clinical features of post-epileptic dysfunction. The aim of this paper is to investigate clinical features of special post-epileptic dysfunction persisting over 24 hours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients with special syndromes of post-epileptic dysfunction were retrospectively analyzed and the related literature was reviewed.

RESULTS: Six patients with post-epileptic dysfunction experienced status epilepticus. Of the seven patients, six had underlying structural brain lesions. Post-epileptic dysfunction has different syndromes, including post-epileptic paralysis, post-epileptic aphasia, cognitive disorder, gaze palsy and hemianopsia. The duration of the dysfunction in these patients lasted from 2 days to 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS: The great majority of patients with post-epileptic dysfunction experience status epilepticus and have underlying structural brain lesions. Post-epileptic dysfunction includes various syndromes and can last from several days to 3 months with a good prognosis.

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