Merve Öztürk, Ömer Karaca, Defne Alikılıç, Adnan Deniz, Mesut Güngör, Bülent Kara

Objectives: Leuprolide acetate (LA) is a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog used for the treatment of central precocious puberty. Seizure exacerbation and absence seizures can occur during the course of LA therapy, especially in patients with brain damage. We report a patient who experienced non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) due to LA therapy. Methods: The clinical and electroencephalography (EEG) findings of the patient who developed NCSE due to LA treatment are presented. Results: A 9-year-old girl presented with decreased responsiveness and impaired consciousness since 3 days. She had a history of prematurity (32th GW) and right middle cerebral artery territory infarct at newborn period. At follow-up, she was diagnosed as spastic hemiparesis at left, psychomotor retardation and symptomatic epilepsy. Brain MRI revealed cystic encephalomalacia in the territory of left MCA. Carbamazepin monotherapy was ordered at the ages of 6 years, and seizures were partially controlled. At the ages of 7 years LA was ordered because of puberty precox. After LA, frequency of seizures significantly increased, and the patient had two NCSE attacks. After discontinuation of LA treatment, EEG findings returned to normal and cognitive performance improved. Conclusion: Some drugs may trigger epileptic seizures even convulsive or non-convulsive SE. Discontinuation of the responsible drug is critical to control seizure activity in these patients.
Keywords: leuprolide acetate, non-convulsive status epilepticus, brain damage

Merve Öztürk
Kocaeli University
Turkey

Ömer Karaca
Kocaeli University
Turkey

Defne Alikılıç
Kocaeli University
Turkey

Adnan Deniz
Kocaeli University
Turkey

Mesut Güngör
Kocaeli University
Turkey

Bülent Kara
Kocaeli University
Turkey