Paroxysmal sleep as a presenting symptom of bilateral paramedian thalamic infarctions

Abstract

Bilateral paramedian thalamic infarctions may result in hypersomnolence, supranuclear palsy, and an amnestic syndrome. We describe an 82-year-old man who presented with recurrent, transient episodes of unresponsiveness secondary to bilateral paramedian thalamic infarctions. Electroencephalography was performed during one of these paroxysmal events and showed an abrupt transition to a stage 2 sleep pattern with spindle formation.