Importance of Diazepam Administration During Electroencephalography in the Differential Diagnosis of Cortical Visual Loss

YİŞ U., Topcu Y., Bayram E., Karakaya P., Cakmakci H., Kurul S. H.

JOURNAL OF CHILD NEUROLOGY, vol.29, no.1, pp.114-117, 2014 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 29 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0883073812467690
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CHILD NEUROLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.114-117
  • Keywords: electroencephalography, diazepam, cortical blindness, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, periodic synchronous complexes
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A 14-year-old boy presented with acute visual loss due to cortical blindness. Two weeks after the visual symptoms, the patient developed behavioral abnormalities. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed hyperintense lesions at parieto-occipital lobes on T-2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery images. Sleep and awake electroencephalography (EEG) were normal, but diazepam administration revealed bilateral periodic synchronous complexes occurring every 20 to 30 seconds. Elevated measles antibody titers in cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. We conclude that visual loss due to cortical blindness is an important finding of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Diazepam administration during EEG should be a part of investigation in cases with unexplained cortical blindness.