An Unusual Cause of Nocturnal Attacks

Abstract

This chapter examines the case of a man diagnosed with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE). He developed nocturnal attacks at the age of 6 months. These attacks were brief and associated with stiffening of the limbs without loss of consciousness. Despite multiple trials of antiepileptic drugs, the attacks continued in clusters of 10-20 per night with several weeks between bouts. Because of the uncertainty of the diagnosis, the patient had prolonged video-EEG monitoring. A total of 46 seizures with stereotyped clinical manifestations were recorded. The seizures started with facial movements and were sometimes associated with a groan. Six years after the episode of stat..