In 84% of cases the cause of death was directly related to the cor bovinum, but in 37% the cause of death was still unclear. They concluded that cor bovinum was a decreasing but still frequent autopsy finding. High blood pressure, COPD and male sex were the main risk factors. The decreasing incidence was ascribed to improved medical management: they mention treatments for high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, which suggests that "COPD" in their abstract refers to the latter. Diagnosis
Terminology
A Medline search in January 2008 of articles published since 1950 revealed seven articles on "cor bovinum" (in the earlier part of this period only the titles could be searched), of which only one was in English. A search for dictionary-reported synonyms revealed no mention of "bucardia," and all 101 articles mentioning "ox heart" related to oxen. See also
Cardiomegaly
Left ventricular hypertrophy
Syphilitic aortitis
Ventricular hypertrophy


== References ==
Single Photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may also be used which involves the use of a radiotracer that is taken up by the ictal region of the brain where,  typically the tumor lies. Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT) using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) show reduced metabolism at the site of seizure onset. Gelastic seizures have been observed after taking a birth control pill (Maxim (R)). Optic nerve hypoplasia is the only reported condition with gelastic seizures without hypothalamic hamartomas, suggesting that hypothalamic disorganization alone can cause gelastic seizures. History
Very likely gelastic seizures were already recognized at the time of Babylonian medicine. A detailed description was given by the Scottish physician Robert Whytt in 1765, and the term "gelastic seizure" was coined in 1898 by the French neurologist, neuropathologist and epileptologist Charles Féré. Notable Cases
George William Helon (Australian author and businessman) is a Gelastic seizure patient, mentor, counsellor and advocate. Media references
Gelastic syncope was also referred to in one paper also as "Seinfeld syncope" after an incident in which a patient repeatedly fainted while watching an episode of Seinfeld. References
External links
Gelastic Seizures - Goran Brandberg, Orvar Eeg-Olofsson
Epilepsy Ontario - Gelastic seizures
Hypothalamic hamartomas and gelastic epilepsy
MR imaging of hypothalamic hamartoma