Paroxysmal appearing palsy of epileptic origin.

Higier first reported on "Paroxysmal appearing palsy of epileptic origin". This syndrome has only rarely been described under a variety of names such as: "focal inhibitory seizures, unilateral atonic seizures, hemiparetic seizures, ictal hemiparesis". The case report we present regards a 34-year-old woman who complained of sudden loss of tone accompanied by a left-sided hemiplegia lasting for several minutes. Treatment with carbamazepine was successful in reducing the attacks as might be expected in partial seizures. An inhibitory discharge may be causative of this syndrome in agreement with Higier's original theory.