Vaping and Seizure Risk: A Case Report (1814)
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

Abstract
Objective: We report a case of new-onset seizure following vaping.
Background: A growing number of individuals are current users of e-cigarettes and vaping. There have been reports of lung injury and death following e-cigarette use. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an alert regarding the safety of vaping after numerous seizures were reported following its use. It remains unclear whether seizures occur due to nicotine toxicity or from other unique factors.
Design/Methods: Not Applicable
Results: We present a 34-year-old male with no past medical history who was brought to the emergency department with a new onset seizure. He was driving a vehicle when he had a generalized tonic clonic seizure lasting two minutes. The seizure was witnessed by his wife who described bilateral tonic arm extension followed by generalized convulsions, followed by a postictal state. Initial work-up included a non-contrast CT head which was normal, and lab work which showed only mild hypophosphatemia. Urine drug screen was negative. While in the ED the patient again vaped, leading to yet another generalized tonic clonic seizure minutes later. The patient was then started on levetiracetam. Further work-up included an MRI brain with and without contrast which was normal, and an EEG which was abnormal due to the presence of mild focal slowing in the left temporal region. No epileptiform features were noted and no seizures were recorded. Further history was elicited, which revealed that for months prior to the patient’s presentation he would become flushed, diaphoretic, and at times confused or agitated after vaping. He reported vaping minutes prior to getting in the car on the day when he had his first seizure.
Conclusions: E-cigarette exposure raises significant public health concerns. There may be a connection with e-cigarette exposure and seizures. Additional information is required to determine if a link exists between vaping and seizures.
Disclosure: Dr. Quezada has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sianati has nothing to disclose. Dr. Valeriano has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with UCB, Eisai, LivaNova, Sunovian.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Dr. David E. Vaillancourt and Dr. Shannon Y. Chiu
► Watch
Related Articles
- No related articles found.