Idiopathic recurrent stupor mimicking status epilepticus

Asthana V, Agrawal S, Goel D, Sharma JP
Correspondence: Dr Deepak Goel, drdeepakhiht@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT
Stupor is defined as a deep sleep or behaviourally similar unresponsiveness from which the subject can be aroused only by vigorous repeated stimuli. Causes of stupor may be related to brain damage, toxic or metabolic encephalopathies. Idiopathic recurring stupor is a stupurous condition of unknown aetiology, unrelated to structural, toxic or metabolic disturbance. This condition responds to flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist. We describe a 60-year-old man presenting with abnormal jerky movements of the body and who was wrongly treated as status epilepticus. He responded to flumazenil which confirmed the diagnosis.

Keywords: flumazenil, idiopathic recurrent stupor, stupor
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(10): e276-e277