Patterson has brain condition

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Mike Patterson has a brain condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM) -- which is the tangling of blood vessels near the skull -- that may require surgery, the Eagles said.

"We're pretty sure that that's what caused the seizure," Eagles head trainer Rick Burkholder said." "We're pretty sure it wasn't football related. So now the next course of treatment for Mike is they'll continue to do testing."

Patterson's agent, J.R. Rickert, released a statement saying that the Eagles defensive tackle would seek further evaluation.

"He has not received an official diagnosis of a brain AVR and is continuing to be evaluated by multiple doctors," the statement read. "Once we know the course of treatment and timetable for recovery, Mike and his wife Bianca will decide how to proceed."

Patterson had a seizure during Wednesday's practice and was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital for testing. He remained there overnight.

The arteries and veins in an AVM can rupture, causing bleeding into the brain, according to mayoclinic.com. Patterson did not have any bleeding in his brain after he underwent an MRI, Burkholder said Wednesday. AVMs also can cause seizures, headaches or noises in the ear.

AVM is usually congenital. Some cases of AVM are easier to treat than others, according to mayoclinic.com.

"I'm not going to stand up here and speculate what the treatment plan is going to be because we don't know," Burkholder said. "There is still testing that has to go on. ... I'm certainly not going to speculate on whether Mike will return to football now, this season, next season. It's foolish to speculate that."

Patterson started to convulse before participating in one-on-one drills during Wednesday's morning practice. He had not engaged in any contact five minutes prior to his collapse. Patterson had no history of seizures before Wednesday, Burkholder said.

During his seizure Patterson bit his tongue and started to bleed profusely from the mouth. Some Eagles players reacted emotionally to his seizure.

The 27-year-old Patterson is entering his seventh season with the Eagles. He's the longest-tenured current Eagle in terms of games played (95). The team drafted him 31st overall in the first round of the 2005 draft out of Southern Cal.