[Case of frontal lobe epilepsy with gelastic seizures induced by emotion]

Abstract

Gelastic seizures without hypothalamic hamartoma is a rare forms of epilepsy. Here, we report the case of 4-year-old girl with gelastic seizures. There was no delay in mental or motor development of the patient. The patient exhibited a peculiar seizure pattern that suddenly clung to her mother stiffening her body and an outburst of laughter with no apparent cause. The frequency of the seizures increased over a period of 1 month. Although the brain MRI and interictal EEG showed no abnormality, ictal EEG showed a 14 Hz wave discharge and subsequent slow-wave activity and suppression in bilateral frontal areas. The seizures responded favorably to oral administration of carbamazepine. The induction of the seizures could be related to theophylline administration and emotional excitation.