Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of limbic encephalitis repeated aphasic status epilepticus with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges

Teruaki Masuda, M.D., Noriyuki Kimura, M.D., Ken-ichiro Nakamura, M.D., Toshio Okazaki, M.D., Ryuki Arakawa, M.D. and Toshihide Kumamoto, M.D.

Department of General Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University

We report a case of limbic encephalitis repeated aphasic status epilepticus with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs). A 51-year-old man developed convulsions, psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, phobia and ease of anger, and Wernicke's aphasia. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed increase of leukocyte count (148/μl, mononuclear cells). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintensity lesions in the left medial temporal area and basal frontal area on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. The electroencephalography (EEG) showed PLEDs over the left hemisphere, occurring at intervals of 0.5- 1Hz. Although his limbic symptoms improved, Wernicke's aphasia occurred perioiodically with PLEDs appearance. After the administration of antiepileptic drugs, his language performance improved, and PLEDs were completely disappeared. We diagnosed him limbic encephalitis with non-convulsive repeated aphasic status epilepticus with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges. Aphasic status epilepticus should be considered in the patients with limbic encephalitis, and careful evaluation of aphasia and EEG should be necessary to diagnose of aphasic status epilepticus.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (643K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 51: 135|140, 2011)
key words: aphasic status epilepticus, limbic encephalitis, MRI, periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges

(Received: 13-Aug-10)