Ictal amaurosis: MRI, EEG, and clinical features.

Abstract

We studied seven consecutive patients who experienced amaurosis as a prominent feature of their seizures. The mean age of seizure onset was 4 years. Six patients had MRI abnormalities including ischemic, traumatic, and space-occupying lesions, with five limited to the parietal-occipital region. Six patients had unilateral, posterior interictal spike and slow wave complexes. Four patients experienced severe postictal headache and nausea. Absence of a family history of seizures distinguished the patients with MRI lesions from previously presented series of benign occipital lobe epilepsy. We conclude that the constellation of ictal amaurosis, occipital paroxysms, and postictal migrainous symptoms does not necessarily signify a benign, nonlesional epilepsy; MRI is recommended for such patients without a family history of similar seizures.