Cefepime was started for a patient with urinary tract infection and renal failure. The next day, she started confusion and seizures. EEG recorded Stimulus-induced Rhythmic, Periodic, or Ictal Discharges (SIRPIDS) associated with seizures (Figure). Cefepime was discontinued. Subsequent EEG demonstrated only slowed background (SB).
Initial EEG. Prior to stimulation, slowing of background (A). After sternal rub, bilateral triphasic waves (repeated every 0.5 s) prominent in the fronto-central regions of the two hemispheres, left and median predominated (B). This activity was associated with jerks affecting right upper limb.
The EEG in cefepime neurotoxicity (CN) is considered non-reactive to stimulation, and characterized for SB associated or not with periodic discharges, including triphasic waves (TWs). Discordantly, we describe SIRPIDS in CN11 . Jallon P, Fankhauser L, Du Pasquier R, et al. Severe but reversible encephalopathy associated with cefepime. Neurophysiol Clin 2010;30:383-386.,22 . Bragatti JA, Rossato R, Ziomkowski S, Kliemann FAD. Cefepime-induced encephalopathy: clinical and electroencephalographic features in seven patients. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2005;63:87-92..
Our report and the recent description of repeated TWs as ictal pattern33 . Bragatti JA. The role of triphasic waves in the care of critically ill patients. Clin Neurophysiol 2013;124:1924.,44 . Sutter R, Stevens RD, Kaplan PW. Significance of triphasic waves in patients with acute encephalopathy: A nine-year cohort study. Clin Neurophysiol 2013;124:1952-1958. demonstrate that at least some discharges in CN are epileptic related.
Alerting stimuli activate the arousal circuitry, and, when combined with hyperexcitable cortex, result in SIRPIDS and seizures55 . Hirsch LJ, Pang T, Claassen J, et al. Focal motor seizures induced by alerting stimuli in critically ill patients. Epilepsia 2008;49:968-973..
References
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1Jallon P, Fankhauser L, Du Pasquier R, et al. Severe but reversible encephalopathy associated with cefepime. Neurophysiol Clin 2010;30:383-386.
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2Bragatti JA, Rossato R, Ziomkowski S, Kliemann FAD. Cefepime-induced encephalopathy: clinical and electroencephalographic features in seven patients. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2005;63:87-92.
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3Bragatti JA. The role of triphasic waves in the care of critically ill patients. Clin Neurophysiol 2013;124:1924.
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4Sutter R, Stevens RD, Kaplan PW. Significance of triphasic waves in patients with acute encephalopathy: A nine-year cohort study. Clin Neurophysiol 2013;124:1952-1958.
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5Hirsch LJ, Pang T, Claassen J, et al. Focal motor seizures induced by alerting stimuli in critically ill patients. Epilepsia 2008;49:968-973.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Aug 2014
History
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Received
18 Feb 2014 -
Reviewed
02 May 2014 -
Accepted
22 May 2014