Differential Diagnosis for Sudden Tonic-Clonic Seizure in an Older Adult
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hypertensive Encephalopathy: Given the patient's history of hypertension (HTN), a sudden tonic-clonic seizure could be indicative of hypertensive encephalopathy, a condition where severely elevated blood pressure leads to brain dysfunction, including seizures.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Although the patient has no recent illness, a stroke or TIA could present with a seizure, especially in older adults with hypertension.
- Metabolic Disorders: Electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hyponatremia, hypocalcemia) or other metabolic issues could precipitate a seizure, particularly in the context of underlying conditions like hypertension.
- Medication Side Effects: Certain medications, including those used to treat hypertension or low testosterone, could potentially lower the seizure threshold.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A sudden, severe headache accompanied by a seizure could indicate a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is a medical emergency.
- Meningitis or Encephalitis: Infections of the brain or meninges, although less common in this presentation, could lead to seizures and are critical to diagnose promptly due to their high morbidity and mortality.
- Brain Tumor: Although rare, a new-onset seizure in an older adult could be the first presentation of a brain tumor.
Rare Diagnoses
- Vasculitis: Conditions like central nervous system vasculitis could present with seizures among other neurological symptoms, but are less common.
- Mitochondrial Disorders: Certain mitochondrial myopathies can present with seizures, among a wide range of other symptoms, but are rare and typically have other systemic manifestations.
- Paraneoplastic Syndromes: These are rare disorders that are triggered by an altered immune system response to a neoplasm, and can sometimes present with seizures as an initial symptom.