Objective:

Focal status epilepticus requires timely diagnosis and treatment. Stroke is a common cause of epileptic seizures, but stroke-induced epilepsia partialis continua (SIEPC) is a rare type of focal status epilepticus with unknown management and prognosis. The aim of the study was to present a single-center case series of patients admitted to a third-level referral hospital diagnosed with SIEPC.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review assessing all in-hospital consultations from July 2021 to July 2022 describing patients who presented with a diagnosis of SIEPC during hospital admission. Patients received standard diagnostic approaches (including electroencephalographic assessment) and treatment protocols. We defined EPC as focal, continuously repeated seizures with preserved consciousness lasting at least 1 h, confirmed with electroencephalography.

Results:

We identified 1054 patients seen by the neurology department as in-patient consultations. We found 268 patients with a diagnosis of stroke or epilepsy and then excluded 265 patients due to an alternate diagnosis. We finally identified three patients with (SIEPC).

Conclusions:

Although cerebrovascular disorders are a common cause of hospital admission, and SIEPC is rare, this condition is relevant to the practicing clinician. This study draws attention to this distinct clinical entity with variable presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic issues.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )