Partial status epilepticus associated with asomatognosia and private alien hand-like behaviors

Background: Paroxysmal alien hand syndrome (AHS) has been reported in association with ictal phenomena, but simultaneous electroencephalographic verification has not been made. Observation: A 61-year-old woman with a right hemisphere glioblastoma multiforme developed movements of the left hand that she claimed were not under her control, and she denied ownership of the affected limb. Simultaneous electroencephalograms documented continuous spikes in the right frontotemporal region. Intravenous diazepam therapy (2.5 mg) reversed both the abnormal movements and the spike activity on the electroencephalograms. Conclusions: Our case demonstrates that partial seizures can produce AHS along with asomatognosia. This variety of AHS appears to be different, both etiologically and phenomenologically, from other forms of AHS.