Pilomotor seizures associated with sequential changes in magnetic resonance imaging

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epileptology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Piloerection during seizures is an uncommon symptom, typically associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.
• Pilomotor seizures are rarely the primary manifestation of epileptic activity.
• The specific etiology of epilepsy presenting with pilomotor seizures remains largely unreported.

Observation:

• A patient presented with frequent, sudden, and transient pilomotor seizures lasting for months.
• The pilomotor seizures occurred multiple times daily.
• Sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed changes in the left hippocampus.

Findings:

• This case represents the first documented instance of epilepsy with pilomotor seizures.
• The pilomotor seizures were directly associated with observable, sequential changes in the left hippocampus.
• The findings suggest a potential link between hippocampal pathology and pilomotor seizures.

Implications:

• This study highlights piloerection as a potential, albeit rare, clinical feature of focal epilepsy.
• The findings may prompt further investigation into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying pilomotor seizures.
• Understanding this association could aid in the diagnosis and management of specific epilepsy syndromes.