[Epilepsy detected in diabetes in patients over 50 years]

Epilepsy over the age of 50 years represents 14% of the persons hospitalized in this age group, and 32% of all epileptics hospitalized at Dakar U. H. C. The etiologies of these epilepsies reveal 8.30% metabolic encephalopathics, and 3.35% diabetics. Between 1970 and 1988, 30 cases associating epilepsy and diabetes--of which 16 cases of epilepsy following diabetes in subjects aged over 50 years--were recorded. This association is characterized by: 1. on the biographic level: both sexes are equally concerned (7 men and 9 women); the average age is 63 years. 2. on the clinical level: partial, focal attacks dominate, accounting for 14 of the 16 cases (87.5%) and appear as a state of epileptic sickness or as recurrent attacks in 15 cases out of 16 with electro-clinical concordancy. Post-critical neurological examination is normal in 75% of the cases. 3. on the biological level: initial glycemia is more than 2.5g/l in 13 cases, with glucosuria and cetonuria. 4. on the therapeutic level: the attacks resist barbiturate and benzodiazepin treatment in 80% of the cases, but the attacks diminish as the diabetes is brought under control through insulin treatment. 5. on the evolutionary level: evolution is favourable in 56.25% of the cases. Decease (7 cases) should be explained by delay in diagnosis and therapy.