Medtronic
 
 

Insertable
Loop Recorder

Misdiagnosis of Epilepsy: Many Seizure-like Attacks Have a Cardiovascular Cause1


1. Selection Criteria

74 patients with:

  • Recurrent seizure-like episodes
  • Epilepsy diagnosis
  • Normal or nondiagnostic EEGs
2. Testing Included
  • Tilt Table with Video EEG monitoring
  • Carotid sinus massage
  • ILR implants (10)
3. Results
* Psychogenic
No change in original
diagnosis		 *

58%
 2%

Objective

Investigate the value of cardiovascular tests to diagnose convulsive syncope in patients with apparent treatment-resistant epilepsy.

Methods

Seventy-four (74) patients who were previously diagnosed with epilepsy were studied. Inclusion criteria included continued attacks despite adequate anticonvulsant drug treatment or uncertainty about the diagnosis of epilepsy, on the basis of the clinical description of the seizures.

References
  1. Zaidi A, Clough P, Cooper P, Scheepers B, Fitzpatrick AP. Misdiagnosis of epilepsy: many seizure-like attacks have a cardiovascular cause. J Am Coll Cardiol. July 2000;36(1):181-184.

 

 

Additional Information