Abdominal Epilepsy: Report of two cases and literature review

Abstract Abdominal epilepsy (AE) is a rare form of epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal abdominal pain accompanied by syncope. It often presents diagnostic challenges due to its diverse clinical manifestations. Herein, we present two cases, a 28-year-old male and a 55-year-old female, with a decade-long history of intermittent abdominal pain and syncope. Despite multiple consultations, a definitive diagnosis remained elusive until electroencephalography (EEG) revealed characteristic abnormalities. Two cases underscore the importance of recognizing AE as a potential cause of unexplained abdominal pain and syncope. Therefore, we recommend that for patients with unexplained abdominal pain accompanied by altered consciousness, after ruling out common causes, consideration should be given to AE. In the meantime, we summarize the possible molecular mechanisms for AE development.