Christopher R Newey1,2, Pravin George3, Aarti Sarwal4, Norman So5, Stephen Hantus3,5. 1. Department of Neurology, University of Missouri, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. neweyc@health.missouri.edu. 2. Neurological Institute, Cerebrovascular Center, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195-5245, USA. neweyc@health.missouri.edu. 3. Neurological Institute, Cerebrovascular Center, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195-5245, USA. 4. Neurology and Critical Care (Anesthesia), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Reynolds M, Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA. 5. Neurological Institute, Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195-5245, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neurological complications in liver failure are common. Often under-recognized neurological complications are seizures and status epilepticus. These may go unrecognized without continuous electroencephalography (CEEG). We highlight the observed electro-radiological changes in patients with grade III/IV hepatic encephalopathy (HE) found to have seizures and/or status epilepticus on CEEG and the associated neuroimaging. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of patients with West Haven grade III/IV HE and seizures/status epilepticus on CEEG. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included. Alcohol was the most common cause of HE (54.5%). All patients were either stuporous/comatose. The most common CEEG pattern was diffuse slowing (100%) followed by generalized periodic discharges (GPDs; 36.4%) and lateralized periodic discharges (LPDs, 36.4%). The subtype of GPDs with triphasic morphology was only seen in 27.3%. All seizures and/or status epilepticus were without clinical signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was available in six patients. Cortical hyperintensities on diffusion weighted imaging sequence were seen in all six patients. One patient had CEEG seizure concomitantly with the MRI. Seven patients died prior to discharge. CONCLUSION: Seizures or status epilepticus in the setting of HE were without clinical findings and could go unrecognized without CEEG. The finding of cortical hyperintensity on MRI should lead to further evaluation for unrecognized seizure or status epilepticus.
BACKGROUND:Neurological complications in liver failure are common. Often under-recognized neurological complications are seizures and status epilepticus. These may go unrecognized without continuous electroencephalography (CEEG). We highlight the observed electro-radiological changes in patients with grade III/IV hepatic encephalopathy (HE) found to have seizures and/or status epilepticus on CEEG and the associated neuroimaging. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of patients with West Haven grade III/IV HE and seizures/status epilepticus on CEEG. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included. Alcohol was the most common cause of HE (54.5%). All patients were either stuporous/comatose. The most common CEEG pattern was diffuse slowing (100%) followed by generalized periodic discharges (GPDs; 36.4%) and lateralized periodic discharges (LPDs, 36.4%). The subtype of GPDs with triphasic morphology was only seen in 27.3%. All seizures and/or status epilepticus were without clinical signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was available in six patients. Cortical hyperintensities on diffusion weighted imaging sequence were seen in all six patients. One patient had CEEGseizure concomitantly with the MRI. Seven patients died prior to discharge. CONCLUSION:Seizures or status epilepticus in the setting of HE were without clinical findings and could go unrecognized without CEEG. The finding of cortical hyperintensity on MRI should lead to further evaluation for unrecognized seizure or status epilepticus.
Entities:
Keywords:
Continuous electroencephalography (CEEG); Hepatic encephalopathy; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Seizures; Status epilepticus
Authors: Piergiorgio Marchetti; Costanza D'Avanzo; Raffaele Orsato; Sara Montagnese; Sami Schiff; Peter W Kaplan; Francesco Piccione; Carlo Merkel; Angelo Gatta; Giovanni Sparacino; Gianna Maria Toffolo; Piero Amodio Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2011-07-18 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Z K Wszolek; A J Aksamit; R J Ellingson; F W Sharbrough; B F Westmoreland; R F Pfeiffer; R E Steg; P C de Groen Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 1991-07 Impact factor: 10.422