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[Abdominal epilepsy in the adult]
J Solana de Lope1, O Alarcón Fernández, J Aguilar Mendoza
1Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Espaãnol de México, Colonia Granada, México, DF.
Revista De Gastroenterologia De Mexico
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Abdominal epilepsy, a rare cause of stomach pain, was successfully treated in an adult patient using carbamazepine. Regular medication adherence is crucial for managing this neurological condition and preventing symptom recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Abdominal epilepsy is an uncommon diagnosis characterized by recurrent abdominal pain.
- It is often misdiagnosed due to its non-specific symptoms and lack of objective findings on standard investigations.
Observation:
- A case of adult abdominal epilepsy presenting with paroxysmal epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, and anxiety is described.
- Extensive diagnostic workup including imaging and exploratory laparotomy yielded no pathological findings.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed bilateral theta slow activity during hyperventilation, suggestive of a neurological origin.
Findings:
- Treatment with carbamazepine led to complete symptom resolution.
- Relapse occurred due to irregular medication intake, correlating with low serum carbamazepine levels and abnormal EEG findings.
- Re-establishing therapeutic drug levels resulted in sustained asymptomatic status.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering abdominal epilepsy in the differential diagnosis of unexplained abdominal pain.
- It underscores the diagnostic value of EEG in such cases.
- Consistent carbamazepine therapy is effective for managing abdominal epilepsy, emphasizing patient compliance.