

Differential diagnosis of cataplexy and generalized epilepsy. Case report
https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2024-12-20-23
Abstract
Cataplexy is rare disease, the main clinical features of which are loss of muscle tone without loss of consciousness, associated with specific factors such as laughter, and less often fear, anger or crying. The differential diagnosis of epileptic seizures and cataplexy is often difficult because of similar clinical features. Establishing the diagnosis of cataplexy is important because in most cases it is associated with narcolepsy; in addition, misinterpretation of cataplexy can lead to hyperdiagnosis of epilepsy or wrong efficiency mark of antiepileptic drugs. Clinical and instrumental examination is necessary to establish the right diagnosis. Literature review and own clinical case is described.
About the Authors
A. V. LebedevaRussian Federation
Lebedeva Anna V., DM Sci (habil.), professor at Dept of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics of Faculty of Medicine
Moscow
N. V. Pantina
Russian Federation
Pantina Nina V., functional diagnostics doctor, junior researcher at Dept of Epilepsy and Paroxysmal Diseases
Moscow
A. P. Efimenko
Russian Federation
Efimenko Alexander P., junior researcher
Moscow
V. V. Volokitin
Russian Federation
Volokitin Vladimir V., functional diagnostics doctor, junior researcher at Dept of Epilepsy and Paroxysmal Diseases
Moscow
T. A. Bokitko
Russian Federation
Bokitko Tatyana A., functional diagnostics doctor
Moscow
I. I. Kovaleva
Russian Federation
Kovaleva Irina I., neurologist, junior researcher at Dept of Epilepsy and Paroxysmal Diseases
Moscow
M. A. Beskhlebnaia
Russian Federation
Beskhlebnaya Maria A., student
Moscow
A. I. Tolmacheva
Russian Federation
Tolmacheva Alina I., student
Moscow
V. V. Stoyakina
Russian Federation
Stoyakina Veronica V., student
Moscow
References
1. D. V. Dmitrenko, O. V. Alekseeva, M. R. Sapronovа, A. A. Usoltseva, I. G. Areshkina Problems of differential diagnosis of epileptic seizures and narcolepsy (clinical observation) // Vestnik of North-Eastern Federal University M. K. Ammosova. Series: Medical Sciences. 2018. No. 4 (13). (In Russ.).
2. Golden EC, Lipford MC. Narcolepsy: diagnosis and management. Cleve Clin J Med. 2018;85(12):959–969. doi:10.3949/ccjm.85a.17086
3. Pillen S, Pizza F, Dhondt K, Scammell TE, Overeem S. Cataplexy and Its Mimics: Clinical Recognition and Management. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2017;19(6):23. doi:10.1007/s11940–017–0459–0
4. Medvedeva AV, Golovatyuk AO, Poluektov MG. Autoimmune mechanisms and new opportunities for treatment narcolepsy. S. S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry = Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii im. S. S. Korsakova. 2019;119(4 vyp 2):56–62. (In Russ.).
5. A. V. Zakharov, Ye. V. Khivintseva, I. Ye. Poverennova, T. V. Romanova Narcolepsy: Modern Ideas about Pathophysiology and Methods of Treatment «EFFECTIVE PHARMACOTHERAPY. Neurology. Special issue «Sleep and its disorders-5», 2017 (35). (In Russ.).
6. Vetrugno R, D'Angelo R, Moghadam KK, et al. Behavioural and neurophysiological correlates of human cataplexy: a video-polygraphic study. ClinNeurophysiol. 2010;121(2):153–162. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2009.10.012
7. Liashenko EA, Poluéktov MG, Levin OS. REM sleep behavior disorders in Parkinson's disease. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S. S. Korsakova. 2014;114(6–2):73–79. (In Russ.).
8. Remizevich R. S., Kurasov E. S. Modern ideas about narcolepsy with a description of clinical observation // Vestnik of the National Medical and Surgical Center named after. N. I. Pirogova. 2013. No. 4. (In Russ.).
9. Zeman A, Douglas N, Aylward R. Lesson of the week: Narcolepsy mistaken for epilepsy. BMJ. 2001 Jan 27;322(7280):216–8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7280.216. PMID: 11159621; PMCID: PMC 1119472.
10. Yakupov E. Z., Troshina Yu. V. Cataplexies as a type of paroxysmal disorders of the nervous system (clinical observation) // Vestnik of modern clinical medicine. 2015. No. Appendix 1. . (In Russ.).
11. Stores G. The protean manifestations of childhood narcolepsy and their misinterpretation. DevMedChildNeurol. 2006 Apr;48(4):307–10. doi: 10.1017/S0012162206000661. PMID: 16542521.
12. Macleod S, Ferrie C, Zuberi SM. Symptoms of narcolepsy in children misinterpreted as epilepsy. EpilepticDisord. 2005 Mar;7(1):13–7. PMID: 15741135
13. GranildBie Mertz L, Christensen R, Vogel I, Hertz JM, Østergaard JR. Epilepsy and cataplexy in Angelman syndrome. Genotype-phenotype correlations. Res Dev Disabil. 2016 Sep;56:177–82. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.06.002. PMID: 27323320.
14. Yang Z, Liu X, Dong X, Qin J, Li J, Han F. Epilepsy and narcolepsy-cataplexy in a child. J ChildNeurol. 2012 Jun;27(6):807–10. doi: 10.1177/0883073811432888. PMID: 22596015.
15. Kenaan K, Zafar M, Bond R, Gracious BL. Perampanel-Induced Cataplexy in a Young Male with Generalized Epilepsy. HCA Healthc J Med. 2020 Oct 29;1(5):283–288. doi: 10.36518/2689–0216.1040. PMID: 37426610; PMCID: PMC 10324743.
16. Belousova E. D. Causes of overdiagnosis of epilepsy in children. Ros Vestn Perinatol i Pediatr 2019; 64:(3): 97–102 (in Russ).
17. Benbadis SR. The tragedy of over-read EEGs and wrong diagnoses of epilepsy. ExpertRev-Neurother. 2010 Mar;10(3):343. doi: 10.1586/ern.09.157. PMID: 20217964.
18. Mironov M. B., Okuneva I. V., Mukhin K. Yu. AN IMAGINARY WORSENING STATE IN EPILEPSY. Russian Journal of Child Neurology. 2014;9(1):23–27. (In Russ.)
19. Baiardi S, Vandi S, Pizza F, et al. Narcolepsy Type 1 and Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges in Dual Cases. J Clin Sleep Med. 2015;11(11):1257–1262. Published 2015 Nov 15. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5180
20. Fisher RS, Acevedo C, Arzimanoglou A, et al. ILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2014;55(4):475–482. doi:10.1111/epi.12550
21. So EL. Interictal epileptiform discharges in persons without a history of seizures: what do they mean?. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2010;27(4):229–238. doi:10.1097/WNP.0b013e3181ea42a4
Review
For citations:
Lebedeva A.V., Pantina N.V., Efimenko A.P., Volokitin V.V., Bokitko T.A., Kovaleva I.I., Beskhlebnaia M.A., Tolmacheva A.I., Stoyakina V.V. Differential diagnosis of cataplexy and generalized epilepsy. Case report. Medical alphabet. 2024;(12):20-23. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2024-12-20-23