[De novo absence status: case report]

There are few descriptions about middle-aged patients who have nonconvulsive status epilepticus, absence status. We reported the clinical case of a woman, 52-year-old, diabetic, referred to the emergency room in a confusional state. Initial electroencephalogram showed continuous typical, bilateral, symmetric and synchronous spike-and-wave discharges. Clinical and electroencephalogram normalization occurred immediately following intravenous injection of benzodiazepine. Computerized axial tomography was normal. The recognition of this entity is essential because of its similarity to psychiatric disturbance and its prompt response to proper treatment.