PATIENT WITH UNUSUAL ALTERNATING HEMIPLEGIA

A patient with unusual alternating hemiplegia in childhood is reported . The frequency of hemiplegic episodes was lower than that in other re ported patients. Interictal positron emission tomography revealed decr eased cerebral blood flow in the left hemisphere. After cerebral angio graphy, postanesthetic irritability occurred which evolved into coma w ith hemiplegic episodes. We believe that cerebral angiography in a chi ld with alternating hemiplegia may cause hemiplegic episodes and coma. The episodes disappeared almost completely for 6 years after treatmen t with flunarizine, thus indicating the benefit of the medication for the treatment of alternating hemiplegia.