Unilateral cortical necrosis following status epilepticus with hypoglycemia

Brain Dev. 2003 Mar;25(2):107-12. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(02)00164-x.

Abstract

Isolated status epilepticus or severe hypoglycemia rarely causes irreversible focal neurologic deficits in children. We describe three children who presented with status epilepticus and prolonged hypoglycemia resulting in hemiplegia due to unilateral hemispheric damage. The non-vascular cortical topography of the lesions is consistent with selective neuronal necrosis, confirmed by histopathology in one patient. This suggests increased neuronal vulnerability to necrosis secondary to energy failure resulting from combination of hypoglycemia and status epilepticus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Damage, Chronic / complications
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Hemiplegia / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / complications*
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Necrosis
  • Status Epilepticus / complications*
  • Status Epilepticus / pathology*