Unprovoked Atypical Absence Status Epilepticus in a Patient With Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Absence status epilepticus (ASE) is a rare but treatable condition, and when present in older adults, it can be misinterpreted as encephalopathy or behavioral changes. Our case discusses a 63-year-old patient with myelofibrosis and allogeneic stem cell transplant with late-onset de novo status epilepticus. This case report adds to the rare body of literature discussing de novo ASE whose clinical presentation can be indistinguishable from other encephalopathic or behavioral conditions. Moreover, its occurrence during oncologic treatment warrants clinicians to be on the lookout for similar presentations and encourages future reports of this condition in association with similar therapies. This case report provides value to providers treating patients with similar oncologic therapies and highlights the need for ASE to be further studied as it is a possible rare complication of allogeneic transplantation of stem cells.