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Case Reports
. 2015 Dec 31;5(2):104-6.
doi: 10.14581/jer.15018. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Ginkgotoxin Induced Seizure Caused by Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Hyun-Soon Jang  1 , Sook Young Roh  1 , Eun Hye Jeong  1 , Byung-Su Kim  1 , Mun Kyung Sunwoo  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ginkgotoxin Induced Seizure Caused by Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Hyun-Soon Jang et al. J Epilepsy Res. .

Abstract

Although ginkgo is commonly used as an alternative treatment for memory loss, Alzheimer's dementia and peripheral circulatory disturbances, it is also known to cause neuronal symptoms due to ginkgotoxin (4'-methoxypyridoxine or B6 antivitamin). We experienced a case of a 51-year-old female patient with generalized tonic clonic seizure and postictal confusion after eating large amounts of ginkgo nuts. Blood vitamin B6 level was decreased. After conservative treatment and pyridoxine medication, her mental symptoms were resolved completely and no seizures recurred.

Keywords: Ginkgotoxin; Seizure; Vitamin B6 deficiency.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
EEG findings. (A) Initial nasopharyngeal EEG showed intermittent generalized slowing (arrow) and there is no epileptiform discharge. (B) Follow up EEG showed normal EEG finding. EEG, electroencephalography.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Metabolism of vitamin B6. K, pyridoxal kinase; O, pyridoxine (pyridoxamine) 5′-phosphate oxidase; P, phosphatase; GAD, glutamate decarboxylase. GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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