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Coma with triphasic wave pattern in EEG as a complication of temporal arteritis.
Y Tomer1, M Y Neufeld, Y Shoenfeld
1Department of Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Neurology
|February 1, 1992
Summary
Coma is a rare symptom of temporal arteritis (TA). Prompt steroid treatment can reverse coma and diffuse neurological deficits in patients with TA, even with segmental arterial lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Temporal arteritis (TA), a form of large vessel vasculitis, typically affects individuals over 50.
- Neurological manifestations of TA, while common, rarely include coma.
- Understanding the spectrum of TA's neurological impact is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A case of a patient with temporal arteritis presenting with sudden onset coma.
- The patient exhibited a characteristic triphasic electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern.
- The coma and abnormal EEG resolved following the initiation of corticosteroid therapy.
Findings:
- The study highlights a rare presentation of temporal arteritis with coma.
- A triphasic EEG pattern was observed, indicating diffuse cerebral dysfunction.
- Steroid treatment led to a complete resolution of both the coma and the EEG abnormalities.
Implications:
- Temporal arteritis, despite segmental arterial pathology, can manifest with diffuse neurological deficits.
- Early steroid treatment is critical for achieving complete recovery in TA patients with neurological complications.
- This case underscores the importance of considering TA in the differential diagnosis of unexplained coma, especially in older adults.