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Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is defined as a sudden, unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, nontraumatic, and nondrowning death occurring in a person with epilepsy, either in benign circumstances or during or immediately following a seizure, with or without morphologic or toxicologic findings that explain the death, and excluding documented status epilepticus, trauma, or drowning as the cause.^[1] It represents the leading cause of epilepsy-related mortality, accounting for up to 50% of such deaths in adults and children with uncontrolled seizures.^[2] Epidemiologically, SUDEP affects approximately 1.2 per 1,000 person-years among individuals with epilepsy in the general population, with rates rising to 1 in 150 annually for those with frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS).^[3] The incidence is 23 times higher than sudden death rates in the general population without epilepsy, and it disproportionately impacts younger adults and those with drug-resistant epilepsy, though cases occur across all age groups.^[4] Higher rates are observed in populations with severe epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome in children, where annual risks are approximately 9 per 1,000.^[3] The primary risk factor for SUDEP is the frequency of GTCS; individuals with three or more GTCS per year have approximately a 15-fold increased risk compared to those without recent GTCS, and poor overall seizure control amplifies this risk substantially.^[5] Other modifiable risks include unsupervised sleep, prone sleeping position, and alcohol or substance use, while non-modifiable factors encompass early epilepsy onset, intellectual disability, and genetic predispositions like sodium channel mutations.^[6] Proposed mechanisms involve postictal cardiorespiratory dysfunction, including central apnea, hypoventilation, or bradyarrhythmias triggered by seizures, particularly nocturnal ones originating in the temporal or frontal lobes.^[7] Prevention strategies emphasize optimizing seizure control through antiseizure medications, epilepsy surgery, or devices like vagus nerve stimulators, alongside practical measures such as supervised bedtime monitoring, avoidance of sleep deprivation, and prompt seizure response training for caregivers.^[8] Ongoing research into biomarkers and wearable technologies aims to enable real-time risk detection and intervention, potentially reducing SUDEP incidence in high-risk groups.^[9]

Overview

Definition

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is formally defined as a sudden, unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic, non-drowning death occurring in a person with epilepsy, in benign circumstances, in which the death is not the direct result of status epilepticus, documented asphyxia, or suffocation, and for which no other toxicological or anatomical cause is identified during postmortem examination.^[10] This definition emphasizes the exclusion of identifiable medical causes, requiring thorough clinical history, autopsy, and investigation to confirm the diagnosis.^[1] The term SUDEP first appeared in the medical literature in 1993, building on earlier work such as Lathers and Schraeder's 1990 book Epilepsy and Sudden Death, marking a shift toward standardized recognition of this phenomenon as a distinct category of mortality in epilepsy patients.^[11] Over time, the definition has evolved to incorporate advances in postmortem protocols, such as detailed neuropathological examinations and toxicological screening, to better distinguish SUDEP from other sudden deaths; the current unified criteria were established in 2012 through an international consensus led by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).^[10] Diagnostic criteria classify SUDEP cases into categories to account for variations in available evidence: definite SUDEP requires a normal forensic postmortem examination confirming no structural or toxic cause; probable SUDEP applies to cases without autopsy but meeting all other criteria; possible SUDEP includes cases with insufficient information or an alternative plausible cause; and near-SUDEP refers to events where cardiac or respiratory arrest occurred but the individual was successfully resuscitated.^[10] These classifications, derived from the 2012 ILAE consensus and reaffirmed in subsequent guidelines, ensure precise identification while excluding deaths due to prolonged seizures (status epilepticus), trauma, or drowning.^[12] SUDEP is thus differentiated from other epilepsy-related fatalities by its suddenness, lack of explanatory findings, and temporal proximity to a seizure (typically within one hour), without evidence of external factors like injury.^[1]

Epidemiology

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) has an estimated incidence of approximately 1.2 per 1,000 patient-years in the general epilepsy population, based on systematic reviews and population-based studies. As of 2025, recent analyses continue to estimate SUDEP incidence at approximately 0.7-1.2 per 1,000 patient-years across populations.^[13]^[14] In high-risk groups, such as those with refractory or uncontrolled epilepsy, the incidence rises significantly to 5-10 per 1,000 patient-years, reflecting the heightened vulnerability in individuals with frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures.^[4] This association with uncontrolled seizures underscores SUDEP as a major concern in poorly managed epilepsy cases. Globally, meta-analyses report a broader range of 0.4-1.2 per 1,000 patient-years across diverse populations, with variations attributed to differences in study design, epilepsy severity, and diagnostic criteria.^[15] Demographic patterns reveal higher SUDEP rates among young adults aged 20-40 years, where incidence peaks, often at a median age of around 26-39 years in reported cases.^[16] Males experience elevated risk, with a gender ratio of approximately 1.86:1 (male to female), and individuals with intellectual disabilities face disproportionately higher rates, where SUDEP ranks as a leading cause of mortality.^[17] Overall, SUDEP accounts for 10-20% of all epilepsy-related deaths and is the primary cause of seizure-related mortality in adults.^[18] The SUDEP risk is substantially elevated compared to the general population, being 23 times higher than the incidence of sudden death.^[19] Underreporting poses a significant challenge to accurate incidence estimates, primarily due to incomplete autopsies and misclassification of deaths, leading to suggestions that the true incidence may be 20-50% higher than reported figures.^[20]

Risk Factors

Uncontrolled or refractory epilepsy represents the strongest predictor of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), with frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) serving as a key modifiable risk factor. Individuals experiencing ≥3 GTCS per month face approximately a 15-fold increased risk compared to those who are seizure-free. This association holds even after adjusting for other variables, underscoring the importance of achieving seizure control to mitigate SUDEP incidence.^[21]^[22] Among seizure types, GTCS are the primary trigger in the majority of SUDEP cases, far exceeding the risk posed by non-convulsive seizures. Nocturnal GTCS, occurring during sleep, further elevate the risk, with individuals having a history of nocturnal seizures showing over three times higher odds of sleep-related SUDEP compared to daytime events. Convulsive seizures like GTCS are implicated in up to 90% of documented cases, highlighting their disproportionate contribution relative to focal or absence seizures.^[21]^[23]^[24] Longer epilepsy duration, particularly exceeding 15 years, correlates with heightened SUDEP risk, likely reflecting cumulative exposure to uncontrolled seizures over time. Similarly, early onset of epilepsy before age 6 years is associated with elevated vulnerability, as seen in cohorts with childhood-onset epilepsy where premature disease initiation amplifies overall mortality odds. These features emphasize the chronic nature of epilepsy as a compounding element in SUDEP susceptibility.^[25]^[26]^[27] Use of multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), or polytherapy, has been linked to a 2- to 3-fold higher SUDEP risk in some analyses, potentially due to drug interactions complicating seizure management, though this association diminishes when accounting for GTCS frequency and does not imply direct causation. Recent cohort studies suggest polytherapy may even confer protective effects in certain contexts by enabling better seizure suppression.^[26]^[28] Recent reviews from 2023 to 2025 reinforce GTCS as a pivotal modifiable factor, with systematic analyses reporting odds ratios exceeding 25 for recent or frequent GTCS episodes. For instance, one 2025 literature review identified an odds ratio of 26.81 for recent GTCS, while another highlighted over 15-fold increases for high-frequency events, advocating intensified interventions targeting convulsive seizure reduction.^[29]^[30] Patient-related factors contributing to the risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) encompass a range of demographic, comorbid, genetic, structural, and behavioral elements that are often non-modifiable or linked to the individual's epilepsy profile. These factors interact with seizure dynamics to elevate vulnerability, though their independent contributions require careful consideration in clinical assessment. Understanding these elements is crucial for risk stratification and targeted interventions. Demographic characteristics show a higher SUDEP incidence among males, with studies indicating a 1.4- to 2-fold increased risk compared to females, potentially due to differences in epilepsy severity or autonomic responses. The peak age of SUDEP occurrence is in young adults aged 20 to 45 years, where incidence rates can reach 1.2 to 2.4 per 1,000 patient-years, reflecting the convergence of active epilepsy duration and lifestyle exposures in this group. Intellectual disability is associated with elevated SUDEP risk, with evidence from cohort studies suggesting a 3- to 5-fold increase, particularly in those with developmental delays, though some analyses adjust for seizure frequency and find attenuated effects. Comorbid conditions further compound SUDEP susceptibility. Respiratory disorders, such as asthma, are linked to heightened risk, likely exacerbating postictal breathing impairments. Cardiovascular diseases, including arrhythmias, contribute to vulnerability by amplifying seizure-induced cardiac instability, as observed in autopsy series where comorbid heart conditions were prevalent in 20-30% of cases. In pediatric populations, SUDEP shares parallels with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), including male predominance and prone sleeping positions, with genetic overlaps suggesting shared neurorespiratory vulnerabilities in early-onset epilepsy. Genetic and structural brain factors play a significant role in predisposing certain patients. Epilepsy syndromes like Dravet syndrome, often caused by SCN1A mutations, carry a markedly elevated SUDEP risk, with lifetime incidence up to 15% and a 15-fold increase compared to other childhood epilepsies, attributed to sodium channel dysfunction affecting autonomic control. Structural abnormalities, such as hippocampal sclerosis, are frequently identified in SUDEP cases via neuroimaging and postmortem examinations, with up to 50% showing focal lesions that may disrupt cardiorespiratory regulation. Behavioral factors, while modifiable, significantly influence SUDEP risk through their impact on seizure control. Alcohol and substance use increase risk approximately two-fold by provoking seizures and impairing arousal, as evidenced in case-control studies of unwitnessed deaths. Medication non-adherence is a key contributor, with postmortem analyses revealing subtherapeutic antiepileptic drug levels in 40-60% of SUDEP cases, directly linking irregular dosing to breakthrough seizures.^[31] Recent 2025 reviews highlight advancing insights into genetic risk factors, emphasizing SCN1A variants in developmental epileptic encephalopathies as key modifiers of SUDEP susceptibility beyond traditional clinical predictors. Despite overall declines in epilepsy-related mortality due to improved therapies, SUDEP rates appear stable or rising in high-risk subgroups like those with genetic epilepsies, underscoring the need for personalized genetic screening.

Pathophysiology

Respiratory Mechanisms

Postictal respiratory arrest represents a primary mechanism in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), characterized by central apnea following generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), which can persist for over 30 seconds and induce severe hypoxia. This suppression of respiratory drive originates from brainstem dysfunction, where seizure activity disrupts the central pattern generator for breathing, leading to a failure of automatic ventilation. In human case studies captured via video-EEG monitoring, such apnea has been directly observed as a near-fatal event, with one documented instance involving a 56-second convulsive seizure followed by prolonged central respiratory suppression requiring intervention.^[32]^[33] Central apnea is particularly prevalent in nocturnal seizures, occurring in approximately 34% of peri-ictal events during video-EEG assessments, often exacerbated by the prone sleeping position that hinders recovery. This postictal hypoventilation contributes to a cascade of hypoxia, initially affecting cerebral oxygenation and potentially amplifying seizure-related brain dysfunction, though the primary lethality stems from sustained respiratory failure. Rodent models, such as the DBA/1 audiogenic seizure strain, replicate this process through brainstem-mediated respiratory shutdown, where generalized seizures trigger fatal apnea in nearly all instances without external resuscitation.^[34]^[35]^[36] Laryngeal obstruction further compounds respiratory compromise in SUDEP, involving vocal cord paralysis or upper airway collapse during or immediately after seizures, which impedes airflow and promotes asphyxia. This mechanism is implicated in a substantial portion of cases, as evidenced by pulmonary edema—a marker of acute airway obstruction—present in 46-50% of SUDEP autopsies. Human telemetry data from recent studies indicate that hypoventilation, including obstructive elements, features in the majority of near-SUDEP events, underscoring its role in transitioning from seizure to cardiorespiratory collapse.^[37]^[38] Emerging research from 2024 and 2025 emphasizes prolonged postictal central apnea as a dominant pathway in sleep-related SUDEP, with focal seizures also capable of inducing persistent breathing arrest via amygdala-brainstem connections, independent of EEG suppression. These findings highlight the need for targeted respiratory monitoring in high-risk patients to mitigate hypoxia-driven outcomes.^[38]^[39]

Cardiac Mechanisms

Cardiac arrhythmias represent a key mechanism in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), particularly during generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), where ictal bradycardia and asystole occur in approximately 2-3% of cases, though up to 20% of patients may experience seizure-associated arrhythmias overall.^[40] These events often manifest as profound heart rate slowing, with ictal asystole defined as the absence of ventricular activity for at least 4 seconds, potentially leading to cerebral hypoperfusion and collapse.^[41] QT interval prolongation during or post-seizure can further predispose to torsades de pointes or ventricular fibrillation, especially if the prolongation exceeds 500 ms, heightening the risk of lethal arrhythmias when durations surpass 20 seconds.^[41] Autonomic imbalance contributes significantly to these cardiac disturbances, characterized by an initial sympathetic surge causing ictal tachycardia in up to 80% of seizures, followed by parasympathetic dominance that precipitates sudden bradycardia or asystole.^[42] This biphasic response disrupts normal cardiorespiratory coupling, with excessive vagal activation overriding sympathetic input, potentially resulting in prolonged heart rate drops incompatible with life. Recent analyses indicate that ictal tachycardia may serve as a precursor to fatal outcomes, with prolonged QT intervals associated with increased odds of sudden cardiac arrest in epilepsy patients (OR approximately 1.7-3.0 in refractory cases).^[43] Evidence from implantable loop recorder (ILR) studies underscores the prevalence of these arrhythmias, with multiple investigations reporting peri-ictal bradycardia in 15-40% of high-risk epilepsy patients, including direct associations in documented SUDEP cases.^[44] Autopsy examinations of SUDEP victims frequently reveal myocardial fibrosis, such as focal interstitial changes, in up to 30-50% of cases, comparable to non-SUDEP epilepsy controls but indicative of chronic seizure-induced cardiac stress.^[45] Genetic factors, including channelopathies like SCN5A mutations, overlap epilepsy and cardiac vulnerability, as seen in cases where novel variants in SUDEP victims with idiopathic epilepsy impair sodium channel function, predisposing to both seizures and bradyarrhythmias.^[46] These findings highlight the need for targeted cardiac screening in epilepsy management to mitigate arrhythmia-related risks.

Autonomic and Central Nervous System Dysfunction

In SUDEP, brainstem involvement plays a critical role through postictal suppression of medullary centers that regulate respiratory and cardiovascular functions, resulting in failure of arousal mechanisms and inadequate recovery from seizures. This suppression is often marked by prolonged postictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES), a biomarker associated with heightened SUDEP risk, where neuroinflammation in the brainstem exacerbates cardiorespiratory instability following repeated seizures.^[3]^[47] Such dysfunction impairs the brainstem's ability to restore autonomic stability, leading to central failures that integrate and amplify end-organ risks without primary structural damage to the heart or lungs.^[48] Autonomic storms during seizures contribute significantly to SUDEP by involving ictal sympathetic overdrive, characterized by a catecholamine surge that elevates heart rate and blood pressure, followed by a postictal vagal rebound that causes bradycardia and hypotension, thereby disrupting overall homeostasis. This pattern of autonomic imbalance is particularly evident in genetic epilepsies like Dravet syndrome, where sodium channel mutations lead to unopposed sympathetic activity and reduced heart rate variability. Preclinical models demonstrate that such instability correlates with epileptiform discharges triggering cardiac arrhythmias in approximately 62% of cases, underscoring the autonomic nervous system's role in propagating fatal disruptions.^[3] Functional MRI and animal studies provide key evidence for how seizure activity in the amygdala and hippocampus propagates to the brainstem, inducing central apnea even in cases with intact peripheral heart and lung function. In human intracranial EEG-monitored patients, electrical stimulation of specific amygdala sites triggered prolonged apnea lasting up to 13 minutes, with concurrent es-fMRI revealing reduced activity in medullary and pontine respiratory centers, indicating inhibitory propagation from limbic structures to the brainstem. Complementary mouse models show that lesioning the amygdala enhances CO2-responsive breathing, supporting the pathway's role in postictal respiratory arrest observed in SUDEP autopsies lacking cardiopulmonary pathology. The serotonergic system in the brainstem is implicated in SUDEP through deficiencies that parallel those in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), where low serotonin levels impair arousal and cardiorespiratory control during vulnerable states. In epilepsy models, reduced brainstem serotonin signaling fails to counteract seizure-induced respiratory depression, contributing to central apnea and sudden death. Recent preclinical data from 2025 emphasize autonomic instability as a unifying hypothesis for SUDEP, positing that brainstem-mediated failures in postictal recovery integrate sympathetic-vagal imbalances and serotonergic deficits into a cascade of fatal cardiorespiratory arrest. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to stabilize central autonomic networks, moving beyond isolated mechanisms toward comprehensive neural protection.^[48]

Timing and Sequence of Events

The progression of events leading to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) typically spans pre-ictal, ictal, and postictal phases, marked by a rapid cascade of multi-system failures. In the pre-ictal phase, physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiration, and autonomic tone remain at baseline levels, with no discernible abnormalities preceding the seizure onset. The ictal phase initiates sympathetic activation almost immediately upon seizure detection, often within 0-60 seconds, manifesting as tachycardia and hyperventilation that reflect heightened noradrenergic drive.^[49] This activation is particularly pronounced in generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which precede the majority of SUDEP cases. The postictal phase involves profound depression of central nervous system and autonomic functions, potentially extending up to 1 hour, though lethal events unfold far more quickly due to unchecked physiological derangements. Postictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES), a marker of cerebral shutdown, correlates with this depression and has been observed to last from seconds to minutes, exacerbating vulnerability to cardiorespiratory collapse.^[50] Notably, approximately 69% of SUDEP cases occur during sleep, often in the prone position, which may impair arousal and recovery mechanisms.^[51] The sequence of events generally follows seizure onset with an initial respiratory pause or central apnea lasting 10-30 seconds, rapidly progressing to hypoxia and hypercapnia. This hypoxic state then triggers cardiac instability, including bradycardia or arrhythmias, leading to terminal apnea and asystole. In documented cases, these terminal events manifest within 3-15 minutes post-seizure, with respiratory failure often preceding cardiac arrest.^[52] The nocturnal predominance—estimated at 58-70% of incidents—heightens risk due to unwitnessed events in sleep, delaying potential interventions like repositioning or resuscitation.^[53] Evidence for this timeline derives from video-EEG monitoring in epilepsy units capturing near-SUDEP events, where sequences of apnea, desaturation, and asystole have been recorded in real-time, as seen in studies from 2023 analyzing postictal cardiorespiratory dynamics.^[50] Forensic autopsies further corroborate rapid postictal failure, revealing timelines consistent with death shortly after unwitnessed seizures, often without structural pathology but with evidence of acute hypoxia.^[54] These observations underscore the critical window of postictal vulnerability, emphasizing the need for targeted monitoring during high-risk periods.

Prevention

Seizure Control Strategies

Optimizing antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy is a primary strategy for reducing sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) risk, as achieving seizure freedom substantially lowers the incidence by preventing high-risk generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS).^[55] The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) emphasizes prioritizing control of convulsive seizures through AED selection and adjustment, noting this as the most critical preventive measure.^[55] Agents such as levetiracetam and lamotrigine are often preferred due to their minimal impact on cardiac function, with levetiracetam associated with the lowest SUDEP risk among monotherapies in observational data.^[56]^[57] Polytherapy, when tailored appropriately, has also been linked to reduced SUDEP rates compared to no treatment, particularly when accounting for tonic-clonic seizure frequency.^[58] Surgical interventions offer significant benefits for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, where vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has demonstrated long-term reductions in SUDEP rates through seizure suppression over extended follow-up periods.^[59] In refractory cases, VNS therapy is associated with decreased mortality, including SUDEP, as evidenced by retrospective analyses showing progressive risk decline with device use.^[60] For focal epilepsy, procedures like temporal lobectomy can achieve substantial seizure reduction, with cohort studies indicating an approximately 80% lower SUDEP rate post-surgery (1.3% versus 6.7% in medically managed cohorts).^[61] These outcomes underscore the role of epilepsy surgery in eliminating GTCS, a key modifiable risk factor.^[55] Ensuring adherence to AED regimens is essential, as nonadherence elevates SUDEP risk by promoting breakthrough seizures, with evidence showing heightened incidence in noncompliant patients over longer evaluation periods.^[62] Adherence monitoring tools, such as pill counts or electronic reminders, help address this issue, which can otherwise double the vulnerability to uncontrolled epilepsy.^[63] Recent 2025 research on responsive neurostimulation (RNS) devices highlights their potential in preventing high-risk seizures, reporting median seizure reductions of up to 82% in drug-resistant focal epilepsy and associated long-term SUDEP risk mitigation through targeted brain-responsive intervention.^[64]^[3]

Monitoring and Lifestyle Interventions

Home monitoring technologies play a crucial role in mitigating SUDEP risk by enabling early detection of seizures, particularly during sleep when many events occur unwitnessed. Wearable devices, such as the FDA-cleared Embrace2 smartwatch, utilize accelerometers and electrodermal activity sensors to detect generalized tonic-clonic seizures with high sensitivity, alerting caregivers via smartphone notifications to facilitate timely intervention and reduce postictal complications like apnea or falls.^[65] Similarly, the EpiWatch platform, cleared by the FDA in 2025, integrates with Apple Watch for continuous seizure monitoring, detecting tonic-clonic events and supporting remote oversight to prevent fatal outcomes.^[66] Pulse oximeters and seizure alarms further complement these by tracking oxygen levels and movement, allowing for rapid response during high-risk nocturnal periods.^[67] Supervised living environments significantly lower SUDEP incidence by ensuring prompt assistance during seizures. Nighttime supervision, such as bed-sharing or using cohabitants in the bedroom, reduces the risk of unwitnessed deaths, with studies showing up to 80-90% risk reduction compared to solitary sleeping.^[26] Living alone, by contrast, elevates SUDEP hazard by over sevenfold, underscoring the protective value of shared households.^[68] Additionally, avoiding the prone sleeping position is recommended, as it is associated with a substantially higher SUDEP risk due to potential airway obstruction post-seizure, with evidence indicating it as a major modifiable factor.^[69] Lifestyle modifications further support SUDEP prevention by minimizing seizure triggers during vulnerable times. Abstinence from alcohol is advised, as a history of dependence doubles the SUDEP risk through exacerbated seizure frequency and impaired cardiorespiratory function.^[70] Maintaining regular sleep schedules prevents deprivation-induced seizures, which heighten nocturnal SUDEP vulnerability.^[71] These interventions, including avoidance of recreational drugs, integrate with broader seizure management to promote safety. Recent evidence from the 2025 Lancet study on SUDEP risk markers emphasizes multimodal monitoring, such as cardiorespiratory devices during seizures, to identify high-risk profiles and guide preventive actions, potentially informing personalized risk indices.^[68] Caregiver education on these strategies has been linked to improved adherence and behavioral changes, with pilot studies showing enhanced communication leading to risk-modifying actions, though quantified reductions vary by implementation.^[72] Emerging AI-based prediction apps, like those using machine learning for seizure forecasting, offer promising advancements by analyzing physiological data to preempt high-risk events, as demonstrated in 2025 closed-loop device research.^[73]

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Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children With Epilepsy and Sleep ...
Aug 19, 2025 · Notably, refractory epilepsy and long-term usage of CPAP were associated with an elevated risk for SCA and cardiac dysrhythmia, whereas ...
[44]
Sudden death in epilepsy: the overlap between cardiac and ...
Oct 1, 2024 · Seizure-induced arrhythmias constitute a minority of SUDEP cases. Comorbid cardiovascular conditions are the primary determinants of increased ...Abstract · Introduction · Materials and methods · Conclusion
[45]
Incidence of cardiac fibrosis in SUDEP and control cases - PMC - NIH
Among SUDEP cases, cardiac pathology was less severe than in SAD cases but similar to trauma and epilepsy controls.
[46]
New SCN5A mutation in a SUDEP victim with idiopathic epilepsy
The possibility that the mutation may explain both the epilepsy and the sudden death is discussed. However, the patient was treated with lamotrigine which may ...
[47]
Repeated seizure-induced brainstem neuroinflammation contributes ...
Aug 5, 2024 · Patients with epilepsy face heightened risk of post-ictal cardiorespiratory suppression and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
[48]
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: From Short-Term Risk ...
Aug 18, 2025 · Epilepsy remains burdened by the persistent risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which is the leading epilepsy-related ...Missing: QT | Show results with:QT
[49]
SUDEP Mechanisms: The pathway to prevention - PMC
Sep 10, 2015 · SUDEP is “the sudden, unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic, and non-drowning death of patients with epilepsy with or without ...
[50]
Unexpected cardiorespiratory findings postictally and at rest weeks ...
Mar 23, 2023 · Mechanisms underlying sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) are unclear, but autonomic disorders are thought to play a critical role.
[51]
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: A critical view of the literature
Mar 10, 2023 · Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is “sudden, unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic and non-drowning death in patients ...Missing: coined | Show results with:coined
[52]
Unravelling the mysteries of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
Finally, all cases of SUDEP ended in terminal apnoea and asystole after 3 to 15 minutes. From a clinical perspective, it is also striking that in 14 of the ...
[53]
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Investigation of autopsy ...
Feb 16, 2023 · The incidence rate of SUDEP was reported as 1.16 cases per 1,000 patients with epilepsy. SUDEP affected all age groups, but primarily young ...Missing: underreporting incomplete
[54]
SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)
This can be defined as a sudden, unexpected death in a person with epilepsy, with or without evidence for a seizure preceding the death.
[55]
Pharmacologic treatment and SUDEP risk - Neurology.org
Polytherapy, especially taking 3 or more AEDs, was associated with a substantially reduced risk of SUDEP (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14–0.67). Combinations including ...
[56]
Antiseizure medications and their differing effects on cardiovascular ...
The non-inhibiting drugs levetiracetam and lamotrigine have minimal effects on traditional risk markers of atherosclerosis in adults.
[57]
Antiseizure Medications and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
Aug 7, 2024 · This study found a lower SUDEP risk among those taking polytherapy (more than one ASM) when accounting for TCS frequency compared to no ASMs (OR ...
[58]
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Epilepsy - PMC
Apr 1, 2020 · Additional benefits include reduced sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) rates over time with VNS therapy. Improvements in QOL metrics ...
[59]
Pediatric Epilepsy Treatment | VNS Therapy - LivaNova
VNS Therapy may be associated with lower SUDEP rates.4. In a retrospective claims analysis, age-adjusted SUDEP rates decreased over time from years 1 to 2 (2.47 ...
[60]
Drug‐resistant epilepsy and mortality—Why and when do ...
Sep 17, 2022 · In contrast, another study reported a significantly lower SUDEP rate of 1.3% in 221 patients who underwent TLE surgery as compared to 6.7% in ...
[61]
Antiseizure Medications and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
Aug 7, 2024 · The incidence of SUDEP is around 1 per 1000 person-years, but ... meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials. Lancet Neurol ...
[62]
Medication Nonadherence Is a Factor in Sudden Unexpected Death ...
Jul 10, 2019 · A report in Neurology discusses the rare risk of sudden death in epilepsy patients and states that SUDEP can occur even in those with well- ...Missing: alcohol | Show results with:alcohol
[63]
NeuroPace Announces Data From a Long-Term Post-Approval ...
Apr 9, 2025 · The RNS System, which showed an 82% median reduction in seizures in adults treated with brain-responsive stimulation for drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE).
[64]
Embrace Smartwatch Gets FDA Go-Ahead for Seizure Monitoring
The smartwatch detected 40 generalized tonic-clonic seizures with 100% accuracy in a supporting clinical trial of 135 patients.
[65]
EpiWatch, Inc. Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for the EpiWatch ...
Mar 19, 2025 · EpiWatch® is a Continuous Seizure Monitor (CSM™) platform that works with Apple Watch to help detect and alert for tonic-clonic seizures in ...
[66]
Seizure Detection & SUDEP Prevention - - Practical Neurology
Most SUDEPs occur during unsupervised times, and most commonly, the decedent is found by family or caregivers in the morning.3,7 Persons with a history of ...
[67]
https://practicalneurology.com/diseases-diagnoses/child-neurology/seizure-detection-and-sudep-prevention/30160/
[68]
Association of prone position with sudden unexpected death in ...
There is a significant association between prone position and SUDEP, which suggests that prone position is a major risk factor for SUDEP.
[69]
Alcohol, drugs and epilepsy
Sep 12, 2024 · Drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs can have effects on your epilepsy, whilst medical cannabis is a medicine used to treat a ...
[70]
Prevention of SUDEP - Epilepsy Foundation
Other modifiable risk factors include AED drug polytherapy and alcohol abuse. Although lamotrigine is a risk factor for SUDEP in some studies, meta-analyses ...<|separator|>
[71]
Improving Patient-Centered Communication about Sudden ... - NIH
This pilot study aimed to demonstrate whether computerized decision support could increase patient communication about SUDEP.
[72]
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