Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report

Abstract Background Hyperhidrosis is common. History, physical examination, and simple investigations are often sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. However, hyperhidrosis can result from focal autonomic seizures. Diagnosing focal autonomic seizures is challenging, and there is a high rate of misdia...

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Main Authors: Khulood Alnuaimi, Preethi Asapu, Rafeef Tahtamoni, Resshme Sudha, David O. Alao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05375-z
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author Khulood Alnuaimi
Preethi Asapu
Rafeef Tahtamoni
Resshme Sudha
David O. Alao
author_facet Khulood Alnuaimi
Preethi Asapu
Rafeef Tahtamoni
Resshme Sudha
David O. Alao
author_sort Khulood Alnuaimi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Hyperhidrosis is common. History, physical examination, and simple investigations are often sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. However, hyperhidrosis can result from focal autonomic seizures. Diagnosing focal autonomic seizures is challenging, and there is a high rate of misdiagnosis. Case presentation A 59-year-old Emirati man presented with intermittent sweating episodes and fatigue of 3 weeks duration. Initial differential diagnoses included poorly controlled diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and cardiac arrhythmia. A focal autonomic seizure was suspected after visits to five different specialities. A diagnosis of temporal glioblastoma was confirmed on an magnetic resonance imaging scan. The patient had surgical removal of the tumor, and his symptoms resolved after treatment with levetiracetam and dexamethasone. Conclusion Hyperhidrosis is common and can be easy to treat. However, hyperhidrosis may be a manifestation of focal autonomic seizure resulting from life-threatening conditions such as glioblastoma. Clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion when managing patients with excessive recurrent sweating.
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spelling doaj-art-d833eab06ec34ce49ad1e795ff1b4fe82025-08-20T04:01:41ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472025-07-011911510.1186/s13256-025-05375-zAutonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case reportKhulood Alnuaimi0Preethi Asapu1Rafeef Tahtamoni2Resshme Sudha3David O. Alao4Department of Emergency Medicine, Tawam HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tawam HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tawam HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tawam HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tawam HospitalAbstract Background Hyperhidrosis is common. History, physical examination, and simple investigations are often sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. However, hyperhidrosis can result from focal autonomic seizures. Diagnosing focal autonomic seizures is challenging, and there is a high rate of misdiagnosis. Case presentation A 59-year-old Emirati man presented with intermittent sweating episodes and fatigue of 3 weeks duration. Initial differential diagnoses included poorly controlled diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and cardiac arrhythmia. A focal autonomic seizure was suspected after visits to five different specialities. A diagnosis of temporal glioblastoma was confirmed on an magnetic resonance imaging scan. The patient had surgical removal of the tumor, and his symptoms resolved after treatment with levetiracetam and dexamethasone. Conclusion Hyperhidrosis is common and can be easy to treat. However, hyperhidrosis may be a manifestation of focal autonomic seizure resulting from life-threatening conditions such as glioblastoma. Clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion when managing patients with excessive recurrent sweating.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05375-zHyperhidrosisAutonomic seizuresGlioblastoma
spellingShingle Khulood Alnuaimi
Preethi Asapu
Rafeef Tahtamoni
Resshme Sudha
David O. Alao
Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Hyperhidrosis
Autonomic seizures
Glioblastoma
title Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report
title_full Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report
title_fullStr Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report
title_short Autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle-aged man: a case report
title_sort autonomic seizures and hyperhidrosis due to glioblastoma in a middle aged man a case report
topic Hyperhidrosis
Autonomic seizures
Glioblastoma
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05375-z
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