Document Detail


Takayasu arteritis presenting as epileptic seizures: a case report and brief review of the literature.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18941753     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Neurological manifestations may complicate Takayasu arteritis (TA) but seizures are rare. A 40-year-old man with TA presented with recurrent episodes of epileptic seizures. Episodes consisted of a brief period of unresponsiveness followed by sudden falling, tonic stiffening and limb jerking. A postictal period with drowsiness, urine incontinence and a temporal loss of memory was also present. A carotid and intracranial duplex ultrasound revealed a reverse flow within the left vertebral artery indicating the presence of subclavian stealing syndrome while extracranial MRA suggested some stenosis at the origin of the left common carotid artery. The EEG was consistent with epilepsy. Neurological manifestations are secondary to ischemia caused by decreased blood flow in the involved carotid and vertebral arteries. Antiepileptic treatment proved effective and may be considered as a reasonable first approach. The stenotic lesions can be managed successfully with angioplasty but these procedures are associated with a high failure rate and may not be needed.
Authors:
Marios A Ioannides; Christos Eftychiou; George M Georgiou; Evagoras Nicolaides
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article; Review     Date:  2008-10-22
Journal Detail:
Title:  Rheumatology international     Volume:  29     ISSN:  1437-160X     ISO Abbreviation:  Rheumatol. Int.     Publication Date:  2009 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-03-26     Completed Date:  2009-08-19     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8206885     Medline TA:  Rheumatol Int     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  703-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Cardiology Department, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. ioannidism@cytanet.com.cy
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
Carotid Artery, Common / radiography,  ultrasonography
Carotid Stenosis / radiography,  ultrasonography*
Epilepsy / complications*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Angiography / adverse effects
Male
Subclavian Steal Syndrome / etiology,  ultrasonography*
Takayasu Arteritis / radiography,  ultrasonography*
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / adverse effects
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / adverse effects
Vertebral Artery / radiography,  ultrasonography*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anticonvulsants

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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