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sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
Etiology:
- epilepsy
- generally occurs during sleep
- 73% of SUDEP cases found in prone position* [1]
- generalized tonic-clonic seizure is the major risk factor for SUDEP [2]
- freedom from seizures is associated with decreased risk for SUDEP [2]
* unknown whether patients were sleeping prone when a seizure began or turned to that position during the seizure [1]
Epidemiology:
- annual incidence of SUDEP in children with epilepsy is 1 in 4500 [2]
- incidence of SUDEP in adults with epilepsy is 1 in 1000 [2]
Related
epilepsy
General
sudden unexpected death
References
- Liebenthal JA et al
Association of prone position with sudden unexpected death in
epilepsy.
Neurology. January 21, 2015
PMID: 25609764
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2015/01/21/WNL.0000000000001260
- Dworetzky B, Schuele SU
Facing up to SUDEP.
Neurology. January 21, 2015
PMID: 25609765
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2015/01/21/WNL.0000000000001274
- Harden C, Tomson T, Gloss D et al
Practice guideline summary: Sudden unexpected death in
epilepsy incidence rates and risk factors.
Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and
Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology
and the American Epilepsy Society.
Neurology April 25, 2017 vol. 88 no. 17 1674-1680
http://www.neurology.org/content/88/17/1674.abstract