Cryptococcal meningitis manifesting as epilepsia partialis continua of the abdomen.

Abstract

We report a case of epilepsia partialis continua that primarily involved the abdominal muscles. Thorough assessment ultimately showed that the condition was due to cryptococcal meningitis. Surface electrode electromyography and electroencephalography were helpful in analyzing this unusual epileptic phenomenon. An 8-week treatment regimen of amphotericin B and a 30-day course of 5-fluorocytosine abolished the epilepsia partialis continua and cured the meningitis. This case should alert physicians to the fact that patients with epilepsia partialis continua may have clonic movements of only the trunk and that the spectrum of neurologic manifestations of cryptococcal infection must now include this seizure disorder.