[Partial motor seizures induced by movement in diabetic patients]

Three elderly patients with partial motor seizures triggered by movement of posture of an extremity are presented. They had a history of diabetes mellitus. Two of them had nonketotic hyperglycemia. Hemiparesis was present in the three patients, which resolved in two. In the other patient, hemiparesis resulted from a previous stroke. All patients had transitory parietal syndrome. During seizures, EEG showed discharges in the parieto-occipital area in two cases and in the mid-temporal area in one. Seizures were resistant to conventional anticonvulsant therapy, and ceased only after treatment of metabolic disturbances. A search for reflex seizures and hyperglycemia should be carried out routinely in the elderly with repeated spontaneous focal motor seizures. This may be important for treatment and prognosis.