Non‐convulsive status epilepticus characterised exclusively by a language disorder induced by non‐ketotic hyperglycaemia

ABSTRACT Non‐ketotic hyperglycaemia is an endocrine emergency characterised by elevated blood glucose levels and high plasma osmolarity. While hypoglycaemia‐induced seizures are usually generalised, hyperglycaemia‐induced seizures are often focal and secondary to the presence of brain lesions. Moreover, in the few studies in which language disorders of epileptic origin have been reported as a clinical manifestation of non‐ketotic hyperglycaemia, the disorders were usually not isolated but were followed by partial motor seizures. We describe a patient who presented with non‐convulsive partial status epilepticus and whose only sign was a fluctuating language disorder induced by non‐ketotic hyperglycaemia. There were no accompanying brain lesions and the patient responded optimally to diazepam. Neurophysiological EEG evaluation was fundamental for the diagnosis.