Adult-onset epileptic aphasia

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jun 29:2018:bcr2018225563. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-225563.

Abstract

Aphasia is a language disorder characterised by loss of ability to produce or comprehend written or spoken language. In majority of the cases, it is due to stroke. Aphasia may also present as an ictal or postictal state of temporal or frontal lobe seizures. Nevertheless, its isolated occurrence in individuals without a clear-cut history of seizures raises diagnostic difficulties with important therapeutic implications.A case of epileptic aphasia is reported in which the diagnosis was confirmed by electroencephalogram with a dramatic therapeutic response to an antiepileptic drug.

Keywords: epilepsy and seizures; neurology (drugs and medicines).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Aphasia / etiology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / complications*
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levetiracetam
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Piracetam / administration & dosage
  • Piracetam / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Levetiracetam
  • Piracetam