Nonconvulsive status epilepticus after intravenous contrast medium administration
T G Lukovits1, C E Fadul, J M Pipas
1Section of Neurology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA.
Purpose:
We describe a 52-year-old man with a glioblastoma multiforme who had a prolonged partial seizure immediately after undergoing a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head with intravenous contrast medium.
Methods:
Earlier computed tomography (CT) had demonstrated a ring-enhancing hypodense mass. The patient was treated with a regimen of intravenous Tirapazamine and brain irradiation. After CT scan performed on the day of his second hospitalization, the patient became aphasic. EEG showed continuous high-voltage semirhythmic sharp and slow waves in the left posterior temporal and parietal regions consistent with status epilepticus (SE). Intravenous lorazepam and a loading dose of phenytoin were administered.
Results:
On the next morning, the patient's condition had improved almost to baseline. He had no recurrent seizures. EEG at 2-month follow-up showed no epileptiform discharges.
Conclusion:
This appears to be the first reported case of contrast medium-induced status epilepticus.
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