Epilepsia partialis continua in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A possible distinct relapse phenotype

Abstract

Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is a rare phenomenon in multiple sclerosis (MS). We describe a patient with relapsing-remitting MS and three episodes of EPC, with refractoriness to anti-seizure drugs but corticosteroid-responsiveness. No lesions likely attributable to her episodes of EPC were seen on 1.5 Tesla MRI, which we hypothesize was due to the small volume of presumed cortical/juxtacortical lesions involving the primary motor cortex. The association with relapsing-remitting disease, corticosteroid responsiveness, and dissemination of episodes of EPC in both space and time in our patient suggest that EPC may represent a distinct relapse phenotype in MS.

Keywords: Demyelination; Epilepsia partialis continua; Focal motor status epilepticus; Multiple sclerosis; Relapsing-remitting.