A 62 year-old patient is presented, without family antecedents of dementia who begins with 45 years of age with sudden crisis of dyspnea, blurred vision, fall to the floor and repetitive jerks of arms. Tried by epilepsy with phenytoin and valproate repeats similar crisis sporadically. Four years ago their relatives began to notice changes of personality, irritability and obsessive behaviors. Later on, are added episodes of disorientation of days of duration, some with auditory hallucinations and also convulsive manifestations. Finally appear polymorphic crisis, some with continue alteration of consciousness, catatonic states and sphincteric incontinence. Physical and neurological examination without abnormalities. Neuropsychological evaluation evidenced consistent defects in frontal functions. EEG showed widespread slowness and sporadic irritative activity in frontotemporal regions. Anterior cortical atrophy in CTscan and bilateral frontotemporal hypoperfusion in SPECT. Labs exams and CSF were normal. CONCLUSION: The association of FTD and epilepsy, in non-family form, suggests a different neurodegenerative cortical syndrome.
frontotemporal dementia; generalized epilepsy; catatonic syndrome
