Herpes encephalitis as a cause of nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Abstract

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus is a specific form of status epilepticus characterized by alteration in mental status and persistent seizure activity on EEG, with or without motor phenomena. Recognition of the consequences of nonconvulsive status epilepticus has attracted greater attention to this condition. We present a 24-year-old woman with epilepsy who developed nonconvulsive status epilepticus during pregnancy. Despite treatment with antiepileptic drugs, the seizures persisted and confusion deepened. Further workup to explain the etiology revealed the diagnosis as herpes encephalitis. She recovered completely by the third day of parenteral acyclovir administration. Herpes simplex encephalitis causing nonconvulsive status epilepticus in a pregnant, epileptic woman is an unfortunate and unusual condition, which was simultaneously complicated by the presence of multiple etiological factors.