Abdominal Aura and Its Localizing Value

[摘要] Background: In focal epilepsies, seizure symptomatology depends on the location of epileptogenic zone and the pattern in which epileptic activity spreads. Objective: The aims of this study are to analyze the character and evolution of the abdominal aura in patients with focal epilepsies and to assess the localizing and lateralizing value of the abdominal aura. Methods: Nineteen patients with epilepsy preceeded by abdominal aura were subjected to complete neurological examination, prolonged video electro-encephalography (EEG) monitoring, cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Brain Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) study. Results: This study revealed epileptic focus localized to temporal lobe in 11 patients (57.9%). The abdominal aura evolved into simple partial seizures with secondary generalization in thirteen patients (68.4%), into pure complex partial seizures in one patient (5.3%), into multiple seizures in 4 (21.1%) patients, and remained simple in one patient (5.3%). Temporal hypoperfusion was found in 46.2% of patients having simple partial seizures with secondary generalization, in the patients with simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures, and in 75% of patients with multiple seizures. Conclusion: Analyzing the evolution of abdominal aura into other seizure types pro­vides more localizing information of the epileptic focus. Moreover the use of video EEG monitoring and SPECT study is helpful in localizing and lateralizing the epileptic focus. (Egypt J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg. 2010; 47(1): 117-122)

[学科分类] 精神健康和精神病学