Preventing Tomorrow's Sudden Cardiac Death in Epilepsy Today: What Should Physicians Know About This?

Overview

Journal Clinics (Sao Paulo)

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2008 Jun 24

PMID 18568251

Citations 9

Authors

Fulvio A Scorza

Diego B Colugnati

Aline P Pansani

Eliza Y F Sonoda

Ricardo M Arida

Esper A Cavalheiro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Approximately 1% of the population has epilepsy, the most common neurological disorder. Moreover, people with epilepsy are more likely to die prematurely than those without epilepsy, and the most common epilepsy-related category of death is sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Information concerning risk factors for SUDEP is conflicting, but potential risk factors include: age, early onset of epilepsy, duration of epilepsy, uncontrolled seizures, seizure frequency, number of antiepileptic drugs and winter temperatures. Additionally, the cause of SUDEP is still unknown; however, the most commonly suggested mechanisms are cardiac abnormalities during and between seizures. This review discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, etiology, and preventative measures in the management of SUDEP.

Citing Articles

Sudden death in a patient with epilepsy and arterial hypertension: time for re-assessment.

Scorza F, de Almeida A, Scorza C, Finsterer J Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2021; 76:e3023.

PMID: 34133664 PMC: 8158671. DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2021/e3023.

Alcohol and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: do not pop the cork.

Scorza C, Guimaraes-Marques M, Girao E, Nejm M, Finsterer J, Girao M Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2020; 75:e1770.

PMID: 32401968 PMC: 7196729. DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2020/e1770.

Domperidone, Parkinson disease and sudden cardiac death: Mice and men show the way.

Scorza F, Scorza C, Ferraz H Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2016; 71(2):59-61.

PMID: 26934232 PMC: 4760361. DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2016(02)01.

Cardiac arrest associated with epileptic seizures: A case report with simultaneous EEG and ECG.

Mehvari J, Fadaie F, Omidi S, Poorsina M, Najafi Ziarani M, Gharekhani M Epilepsy Behav Case Rep. 2015; 2:145-51.

PMID: 25667894 PMC: 4307967. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebcr.2014.07.001.

Research on ionic homeostatic equilibrium may change our view about epilepsy.

Miranda M, Rodrigues A, Cavalheiro E, Scorza F, de Almeida A Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2013; 68(8):1074-6.

PMID: 24036999 PMC: 3752644. DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2013(08)01.

References

Calder P . n-3 Fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: evidence explained and mechanisms explored. Clin Sci (Lond). 2004; 107(1):1-11. DOI: 10.1042/CS20040119. View

. Randomised study of antiepileptic drug withdrawal in patients in remission. Medical Research Council Antiepileptic Drug Withdrawal Study Group. Lancet. 1991; 337(8751):1175-80. View

Tigaran S, Molgaard H, McClelland R, Dam M, Jaffe A . Evidence of cardiac ischemia during seizures in drug refractory epilepsy patients. Neurology. 2003; 60(3):492-5. DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000042090.13247.48. View

Zoccali C, Mallamaci F, Parlongo S, Cutrupi S, Benedetto F, Tripepi G . Plasma norepinephrine predicts survival and incident cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal disease. Circulation. 2002; 105(11):1354-9. DOI: 10.1161/hc1102.105261. View

Cendes F . Progressive hippocampal and extrahippocampal atrophy in drug resistant epilepsy. Curr Opin Neurol. 2005; 18(2):173-7. DOI: 10.1097/01.wco.0000162860.49842.90. View

Krieger E, Silva G, Negrao C . Effects of exercise training on baroreflex control of the cardiovascular system. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001; 940:338-47. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03689.x. View

Fleming D, Cross K, Pannell R . Influenza and its relationship to circulatory disorders. Epidemiol Infect. 2005; 133(2):255-62. PMC: 2870244. DOI: 10.1017/s0950268804003231. View

De Angelis K, Wichi R, Jesus W, Moreira E, Morris M, Krieger E . Exercise training changes autonomic cardiovascular balance in mice. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2004; 96(6):2174-8. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00870.2003. View

Arida R, Scorza F, dos Santos N, Peres C, Cavalheiro E . Effect of physical exercise on seizure occurrence in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats. Epilepsy Res. 1999; 37(1):45-52. DOI: 10.1016/s0920-1211(99)00032-7. View

10.

Kwan P, Sander J . The natural history of epilepsy: an epidemiological view. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004; 75(10):1376-81. PMC: 1738749. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.045690. View

11.

Engel Jr J . Clinical neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and the surgical treatment of epilepsy. Curr Opin Neurol Neurosurg. 1993; 6(2):240-9. View

12.

Nilsson L, Bergman U, Diwan V, Farahmand B, Persson P, Tomson T . Antiepileptic drug therapy and its management in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: a case-control study. Epilepsia. 2001; 42(5):667-73. DOI: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2001.22000.x. View

13.

DRAKE M, Reider C, KAY A . Electrocardiography in epilepsy patients without cardiac symptoms. Seizure. 1993; 2(1):63-5. DOI: 10.1016/s1059-1311(05)80104-9. View

14.

Duncan J, Sander J, Sisodiya S, Walker M . Adult epilepsy. Lancet. 2006; 367(9516):1087-1100. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68477-8. View

15.

Billman G . Aerobic exercise conditioning: a nonpharmacological antiarrhythmic intervention. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2002; 92(2):446-54. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00874.2001. View

16.

Kloster R, Engelskjon T . Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): a clinical perspective and a search for risk factors. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1999; 67(4):439-44. PMC: 1736592. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.67.4.439. View

17.

Stollberger C, Finsterer J . Cardiorespiratory findings in sudden unexplained/unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Epilepsy Res. 2004; 59(1):51-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2004.03.008. View

18.

Collins K, Easton J, Exton-Smith A, Pluck R . Effects of age on body temperature and blood pressure in cold environments. Clin Sci (Lond). 1985; 69(4):465-70. DOI: 10.1042/cs0690465. View

19.

Sander J . The epidemiology of epilepsy revisited. Curr Opin Neurol. 2003; 16(2):165-70. DOI: 10.1097/01.wco.0000063766.15877.8e. View

20.

Arntz H, Willich S, Schreiber C, Bruggemann T, Stern R, Schultheiss H . Diurnal, weekly and seasonal variation of sudden death. Population-based analysis of 24,061 consecutive cases. Eur Heart J. 2000; 21(4):315-20. DOI: 10.1053/euhj.1999.1739. View