Nota Clínica

A case of epilepsy simulating a pheochromocytoma

S. Pereira-Pinheiro, S. Pires-Oliveira, A. Bayão-Horta, M. Martins-Almeida, A. Santos-Castro [REV NEUROL 2004;38:140-142] PMID: 14752713 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.3802.2002557

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Volumen 38 | Number 02 | Nº of views of the article 9.497 | Nº of PDF downloads 385 | Article publication date 16/01/2004

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ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION Autonomic epilepsy is a rare entity that results from an epileptogenic focus involving certain structures belonging to the autonomous nervous system; it is characterised by the occurrence of convulsive seizures that consist in autonomic phenomena.

CASE REPORT We report the case of a 28-year-old female patient who suffered paroxysmal episodes similar to those accompanying a pheochromocytoma. Following a thorough examination, both the presence of a tumour and the anomalous production of catecholamines were excluded and, although it was not possible to provide electroencephalographic evidence, the patient was diagnosed as suffering from autonomous epilepsy, which was later confirmed by the clinical efficacy of valproic acid therapy.

CONCLUSIONS Autonomic seizures often show characteristics that are singular or similar to those of other clinical entities. This makes the disorder difficult to diagnose and sometimes requires therapeutic testing with anticonvulsive drugs. KeywordsAutonomic Electroencephalogram Epilepsy Hypertension Pheochromocytoma Tachycardia CategoriesEpilepsias y síndromes epilépticos

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A case of epilepsy simulating a pheochromocytoma