Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Apr 1;36(2):102-109.
doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001135. Epub 2023 Feb 7.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Gordon F Buchanan  1   2   3 , Ana T Novella Maciel  1   3   4 , Matthew J Summerfield  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Gordon F Buchanan et al. Curr Opin Neurol. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a leading cause of death in patients with epilepsy. This review highlights the recent literature regarding epidemiology on a global scale, putative mechanisms and thoughts towards intervention and prevention.

Recent findings: Recently, numerous population-based studies have examined the incidence of SUDEP in many countries. Remarkably, incidence is quite consistent across these studies, and is commensurate with the recent estimates of about 1.2 per 1000 patient years. These studies further continue to support that incidence is similar across the ages and that comparable factors portend heightened risk for SUDEP. Fervent research in patients and animal studies continues to hone the understanding of potential mechanisms for SUDEP, especially those regarding seizure-induced respiratory dysregulation. Many of these studies and others have begun to lay out a path towards identification of improved treatment and prevention means. However, continued efforts are needed to educate medical professionals about SUDEP risk and the need to disclose this to patients.

Summary: SUDEP is a devastating potential outcome of epilepsy. More is continually learned about risk and mechanisms from clinical and preclinical studies. This knowledge can hopefully be leveraged into preventive measures in the near future.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Hesdorffer DC, Logroscino G, Benn EK, et al. Estimating risk for developing epilepsy: a population-based study in Rochester, Minnesota. Neurology 2011; 76:23–27.
    1. Chen Z, Brodie MJ, Liew D, Kwan P. Treatment outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy treated with established and new antiepileptic drugs: a 30-year longitudinal cohort study. JAMA Neurol 2018; 75:279–286.
    1. Kwan P, Brodie MJ. Early identification of refractory epilepsy. N Engl J Med 2000; 342:314–319.
    1. Gorton HC, Webb RT, Carr MJ, et al. Risk of unnatural mortality in people with epilepsy. JAMA Neurol 2018; 75:929–938.
    1. Devinsky O, Hesdorffer DC, Thurman DJ, et al. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: epidemiology, mechanisms, and prevention. Lancet Neurol 2016; 15:1075–1088.

Publication types