Are All Epilepsy Patients at Risk for SUDEP?

An update from the North American SUDEP Registry

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is an epilepsy-related death without identifiable cause. Little is known about the prevalence, risk factors or mechanism(s) of this tragic outcome. The North American SUDEP Registry (NASR) has been collecting reports of suspected SUDEP cases since October 2011.

This update from the NASR reports findings from 237 patients/decedents meeting diagnostic criteria for definite or probable SUDEP. The most-important discoveries include the following:

SUDEP occurs in all types of epilepsy: generalized, localization-related with or without secondarily generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures, severe, mild, longstanding, recent-onset, well-controlled, even “benign,” (e.g., benign Rolandic epilepsy).
A relatively…

Reviewing Author

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)

Are All Epilepsy Patients at Risk for SUDEP?

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Reviewing Author