[Differential diagnosis of status epilepticus]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2009 Apr;165(4):321-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2008.11.005. Epub 2009 Feb 13.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The diagnosis of status epilepticus can be retained, wrongly, in several circumstances. Nonepileptic pseudoseizures from a psychiatric origin and some movement disorders can mimic convulsive status epilepticus. Encephalopathy of various causes (post-anoxic, metabolic, toxic, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) can be wrongly taken for non-convulsive status epilepticus, mainly due to inadequate interpretation of the electroencephalogram (EEG). In these encephalopathies, the existence of (non-epileptic) myoclonus and the abolition of the EEG abnormalities with the use of a benzodiazepine (without correction of the clinical symptoms) are additional confounding factors, leading to false diagnosis. Nevertheless, in general, the diagnosis of status epilepticus can be confirmed or rejected base on a combined analysis of the clinical data and the EEG.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia, Brain / complications
  • Movement / physiology
  • Myoclonus / diagnosis
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Radiography
  • Status Epilepticus / diagnosis*
  • Status Epilepticus / diagnostic imaging
  • Status Epilepticus / epidemiology