[Non convulsive status epilepticus in a man with chronic alcohol dependence]

We describe a 48-year-old man who experienced a sudden, pervasive change of mental status following a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. In the absence of typical epileptic phenomena, diagnosis of non convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) was delayed. Diagnosis depends upon clinical presentation, EEG findings and, in difficult cases, the effects of a trial with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). In this case report the diagnosis of NCSE was made ‘a posteriori’ based upon symptom remission and EEG normalization following introduction of AEDs. We discuss epidemiology, clinical manifestations, morbidity, mortality and prognosis of NCSE.