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[Seizures and non-ketotic hyperglycemia]
1Service de neurologie du Pr Giroud, CHU de Dijon (21). clarisse.scherer@wanadoo.fr
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|December 13, 2005
Summary
A first seizure in individuals over 50 may indicate non-ketotic hyperglycemia, even without prior diabetes. Prompt treatment of high blood sugar and dehydration is crucial for seizure management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
Context:
- First-time seizures in older adults (over 50 years) can be a presenting symptom.
- This neurological event may be linked to metabolic disturbances, specifically hyperglycemia.
Purpose:
- To highlight the association between new-onset seizures and non-ketotic hyperglycemia in elderly patients.
- To describe the clinical presentation, typical glucose levels, and diagnostic findings.
Summary:
- Non-ketotic hyperglycemia can manifest as new-onset seizures in patients over 50, irrespective of diabetic history.
- Partial motor seizures, sometimes evolving into epilepsia partialis continua, are common.
- Elevated plasma glucose (>20 mmol/L) without ketoacidosis is characteristic; EEG and neuroimaging are typically normal between seizures.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the importance of checking glucose levels in elderly patients presenting with seizures.
- Guides clinicians toward prompt management of hyperglycemia and dehydration to control seizures.
- Underscores a specific metabolic cause for seizures in an aging population, influencing diagnostic and treatment pathways.