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Published on: October 17, 2018
Acute cerebral microbleeds in refractory status epilepticus
Sang-Beom Jeon1, Gunjan Parikh, H Alex Choi
1Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Abstract:
Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are commonly found in patients with stroke and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. However, there have been no reports of CMBs or their acute appearance in patients with status epilepticus. Herein we describe two patients with refractory status epilepticus of uncertain origin. Both patients were previously healthy, and their initial imaging showed no underlying CMBs. One patient's follow-up susceptibility-weighted imaging 29 days after initial imaging showed 63 new CMBs. The other patient's follow-up susceptibility-weighted imaging 41 days after initial imaging showed 14 new CMBs. Multimodal neuromonitoring revealed increase in lactate-pyruvate ratio, decrease in partial brain tissue oxygen tension, increase in pressure reactivity index, and fluctuations of blood pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. This report demonstrates that multiple new CMBs may develop in patients with refractory status epilepticus (SE).
Insights
New cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) may acutely develop in patients experiencing refractory status epilepticus (SE). This finding is novel, as CMBs were previously unreported in SE cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are associated with stroke and cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
- CMBs have not been previously reported in patients with status epilepticus (SE).
Observation:
- Two previously healthy patients presented with refractory SE of unknown origin.
- Initial neuroimaging revealed no evidence of CMBs in either patient.
- Follow-up susceptibility-weighted imaging showed the acute development of numerous CMBs (63 and 14) in the two patients.
Findings:
- Refractory SE is associated with the potential for acute development of multiple CMBs.
- Multimodal neuromonitoring indicated significant physiological disturbances, including altered brain metabolism and impaired cerebrovascular regulation.
Implications:
- This study highlights a potential novel complication of refractory SE.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and clinical significance of CMBs in SE.
- These findings may influence diagnostic and management strategies for patients with refractory SE.
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