Abstract
Pigott 1 has recently reported low blood sugar in epileptic convulsions and regards hypoglycemia as a possible etiological factor. In our series of 25 cases in which 3 or more determinations have been made in each case we do not confirm this view. The blood glucose was determined by the method of Gibson. 2 Determinations were made before, during and after seizures and in each case the blood glucose was within normal limits (90 to 110 mg. per 100 cc. blood) before convulsions, and rose during the convulsions. The rise of blood sugar was roughly proportional to the severity of the seizure, and after termination of the convulsion the blood sugar returned to normal in two to four hours.
In 4 cases of status epilepticus the blood sugar value before seizure was 95.0 to 100.0 mg. per 100 cc. blood. After about one hour of status the values rose to 139.0 to 190 mg. per 100 cc. and after three hours of status the values were 150 to 240 mg. per 100 cc.
In 21 cases having moderate to very severe isolated seizures the blood sugar rose from the average of 92.5 mg. per 100 cc. blood before seizures to 168.0 mg. per 100 cc. during convulsions. In 7 cases the elevation of blood sugar was above 185 mg. per 100 cc. during the height of the convulsions.
In no instance was hypoglycemia found either before or during the convulsions.
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