A Report of Long QT Syndrome that Mimics Epilepsy: A Case Report

Long QT syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder that could be a potentially fatal condition. One of the symptoms of long QT caused by ventricular arrhythmia is seizure. The diagnosis of this syndrome might be delayed when an initial diagnosis of epilepsy is made.

The patient to be studied in this research was a 24-year-old right handed female. She had the spells since she was 14; which were characterized by uncomfortable anxiety, nausea, pallor, and palpitation followed by generalized weakness and occasionally generalized clonic jerks with obvious impairment of consciousness. She was treated with Depakine and Carbamazepine. During the video-EEG monitoring, she had one habitual attack accompanied with ventricular tachycardia and cardiac arrest for which cardiorespiratory resuscitation was immediately started, and fortunately the patient returned to normal condition. Cardiac evaluation was requested and diagnosis of long QT syndrome was confirmed. Implantable cardiac defibrillator was placed for her.

Long QT syndrome possesses considerable mortality decreased with proper therapy. Long QT syndrome imitates seizure disorders. Hence, taking electrocardiography is required for individuals with vague causes of seizure and uncommon semiology.