Pilomotor seizures marked by infraslow activity and acetazolamide responsiveness

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2018 Nov 12;6(1):167-173. doi: 10.1002/acn3.695. eCollection 2019 Jan.

Abstract

A patient with pilomotor seizures post anti-LGI1 limbic encephalitis, refractory to immunotherapy and anti-epileptic drugs, was investigated with electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography. Seizures occurred daily (14.9 ± 4.9/day), with catamenial exacerbation, inducible by hyperventilation. Anterior temporal ictal onsets were heralded (by ~15 sec) by high amplitude ipsilateral electromagnetic infraslow activity. The catamenial/ventilatory sensitivity and the infraslow activity (reflecting glial depolarization) suggested an ionic, CO 2/pH-related glioneuronal mechanism. Furosemide decreased seizure frequency by ~33%. Acetazolamide led to immediate seizure freedom, but lost efficacy with daily treatment. A cycling acetazolamide regimen (2 days on, 4 days off) plus low-dose topiramate maintained >95% reduction (0.5 ± 0.9/day) in seizures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acetazolamide / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Autoantibodies
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology
  • Limbic Encephalitis / complications*
  • Limbic Encephalitis / immunology
  • Magnetoencephalography
  • Seizures / drug therapy*
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Autoantibodies
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LGI1 protein, human
  • Acetazolamide