A case of generalized tonic seizures related to acute myocarditis

Abstract

Patients with acute myocarditis may experience sudden unconsciousness with involuntary movement due to generalized cerebral hypoperfusion of cardiac etiology, which can be misdiagnosed as a true seizure. Convulsive syncope, which is a syncope accompanied by involuntary movements, differs in clinical implications from seizure. It is challenging to clinically distinguish between convulsive syncope and seizure. Without initial suspicion of cardiac etiology, there is often a diagnostic or therapeutic delay. We describe a 7-year-old girl presenting with seizure, which turned out to be convulsive syncope, caused by acquired complete atrioventricular (AV) block related to acute myocarditis.