Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) represents a severe and lethal complication linked with epilepsy.

Definition

SUDEP is defined as the sudden, unexpected, non-traumatic, and non-drowning death in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy, in the absence of a detectable toxicological or anatomical cause of death following post-mortem examination.

Epidemiology

SUDEP affects approximately 1 in 1,000 adults and 1 in 4,500 children with epilepsy annually. It's important to note that these statistics may vary based on the severity and type of epilepsy, as well as other risk factors like poor medication adherence and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Differential Diagnosis

Deaths resulting from prolonged seizure episodes, known as status epilepticus, are not classified under SUDEP. Instead, these fatalities are regarded as a direct consequence of the severe prolonged seizure.

Mechanisms and Risk Factors

The precise mechanisms underlying SUDEP remain incompletely understood, although disturbances in cardiac, respiratory, and autonomic functions during and after seizures are thought to play significant roles.

References

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy Resources
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