Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Jun;20(3 Neurology of Systemic Disease):614-23.
doi: 10.1212/01.CON.0000450969.61204.6f.

Acute symptomatic seizures and systemic illness

Steven Karceski
Review

Acute symptomatic seizures and systemic illness

Steven Karceski. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This article addresses the occurrence of acute symptomatic seizures in the setting of many medical illnesses.

Recent findings: Many medical illnesses can cause seizures. Metabolic derangements, such as disorders of serum glucose metabolism, cause seizures, as well as other neurologic manifestations. Many medicines (such as antibiotics, antivirals, antidepressants, and antipsychotics), whether used at typical doses or in overdosage, can lead to acute symptomatic seizures.

Summary: Acute symptomatic seizures occur most often in illnesses that directly injure the brain. Trauma, stroke, CNS tumors, and CNS infection very commonly cause seizures. However, many medical illnesses do not directly injure the brain but lead to neurologic signs and symptoms, such as seizures. Recognizing these effects, especially in critically ill patients, is important for optimizing medical care.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Annegers JF,, Hauser WA,, Lee RJ,, Rocca WA. Incidence of acute symptomatic seizures in Rochester, Minnesota, 1935-1984. Epilepsia 1995; 36 (4): 327–333. - PubMed
    1. Beghi E,, Carpio A,, Forsgren L, et al. Recommendations for a definition of acute symptomatic seizure. Epilepsia 2010; 51 (4): 671–675. - PubMed
    1. Christensen J. Traumatic brain injury: risks of epilepsy and implications for medicolegal assessment. Epilepsia 2012; 53 (suppl 4): 43–47. - PubMed
    1. Hesdorffer DC,, Benn EK,, Cascino GD,, Hauser WA. Is a first acute symptomatic seizure epilepsy? Mortality and risk for recurrent seizure. Epilepsia 2009; 50 (5): 1102–1108. - PubMed
    1. Porter RJ. General principles: how to use antiepileptic drugs. In: Levy RH,, Mattson RH,, Meldrum BS, editors. Antiepileptic drugs, 4th ed. New York: Raven Press, Ltd, 1995: 137–148.