Fahr's disease: a very rare cause of epilepsy

Fahr's disease, first described by Karl Theodor Fahr in 1930, refers to sporadic or familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification that is associated with many neurological and psychiatric abnormalities, but may also be secondary to other diseases. Most cases present with extrapyramidal symptoms. But here we describe a case of Fahr's disease, who presented with complex partial seizure and behavioral abnormalities. On screening, the cause of seizure was found to be bilateral calcification of cerebellum, basal ganglia and thalamus, due to abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism. A clinical diagnosis of complex-partial seizure with secondary generalization due to secondary Fahr's disease was done on the basis of clinical features, investigations, and exclusion of other causes of intracranial calcification.