Case report: Recurrent postictal pulmonary edema. 1978

R B Archibald, and J D Armstrong

A 32-year-old man with a long history of grand mal seizures but otherwise good health had recurrent episodes of postictal pulmonary edema when he failed to take anticonvulsant medication regularly. This case illustrates most of the features observed in other reported cases of postictal pulmonary edema. Symptoms include dyspnea and cough with production of various quantities of mucoid fluid that may be copious and frankly hemorrhagic. Blood pressure is normal, and temperature may be normal also but is frequently elevated to 100 or 101 F. No cardiac irregularities are heard on auscultation, and the ECG is often normal, but a wide range of abnormalities may be seen. Considerable arterial hypoxemia may occur, and leukocytosis (11,000 to 14,000 cells per cubic millimeter) is common. Rales and rhonchi are audible, and chest films often show bilateral upper and middle lobe infiltrates. The patient is usually clinically improved within 24 hours and the pulmonary edema completely cleared in three to five days.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011654 Pulmonary Edema Excessive accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung, an indication of a serious underlying disease or disorder. Pulmonary edema prevents efficient PULMONARY GAS EXCHANGE in the PULMONARY ALVEOLI, and can be life-threatening. Wet Lung,Edema, Pulmonary,Edemas, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Edemas,Lung, Wet,Lungs, Wet,Wet Lungs
D011859 Radiography Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film). Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D004830 Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic A generalized seizure disorder characterized by recurrent major motor seizures. The initial brief tonic phase is marked by trunk flexion followed by diffuse extension of the trunk and extremities. The clonic phase features rhythmic flexor contractions of the trunk and limbs, pupillary dilation, elevations of blood pressure and pulse, urinary incontinence, and tongue biting. This is followed by a profound state of depressed consciousness (post-ictal state) which gradually improves over minutes to hours. The disorder may be cryptogenic, familial, or symptomatic (caused by an identified disease process). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p329) Epilepsy, Grand Mal,Epilepsy, Major,Grand Mal Seizure Disorder,Major Motor Seizure Disorder,Seizure Disorder, Tonic Clonic,Convulsions, Grand Mal,Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Familial,Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Symptomatic,Familial Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Grand Mal,Seizure Disorder, Major Motor,Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Tonic Clonic Convulsions,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Disorder,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Syndrome,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Disorder,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Syndrome,Convulsion Disorder, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion Disorders, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic,Convulsion, Grand Mal,Convulsion, Tonic Clonic,Convulsions, Tonic Clonic,Cryptogenic Tonic Clonic Epilepsy,Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Disorder, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Disorder, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Disorders, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Disorders, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsies, Familial Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsies, Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsies, Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Familial Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic,Epilepsy, Tonic Clonic,Familial Tonic Clonic Epilepsy,Familial Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Grand Mal Convulsion,Grand Mal Convulsions,Grand Mal Epilepsy,Major Epilepsies,Major Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Tonic-Clonic,Seizure Disorders, Tonic-Clonic,Seizure Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic,Seizure Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic,Symptomatic Tonic Clonic Epilepsy,Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion,Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic Seizure,Tonic Clonic Convulsion,Tonic Clonic Convulsion Disorder,Tonic Clonic Convulsion Syndrome,Tonic Clonic Seizure Disorder,Tonic Clonic Seizure Syndrome,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Disorders,Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Syndromes,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Familial,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Symptomatic,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Familial,Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Symptomatic,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Disorders,Tonic-Clonic Seizure Syndromes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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