Sudden unexpected, unexplained death in epilepsy autopsied patients

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

Sergio A. Antoniuk²  Lubomira V. Oliva¹  Isac Bruck²  Mariana Malucelli²  Silvia Yabumoto²  Jeferson Luis Castellano² 

[1],Universidade Federal do Paraná Hospital de Clínicas Departamento de Pediatria

关键词: sudden death;    epilepsy;    circumstances of death;    pulmonary edema;    morte súbita;    epilepsia;    circunstâncias de morte;    edema pulmonar;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0004-282X2001000100009

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Sudden unexpected, unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) has been reported to be responsible for 2 to 17% of all deaths in patients with epilepsy. This study was conducted to determine the circumstances of SUDEP and the autopsy findings in these patients. Fifty-three individuals whose cause of death was related to epilepsy were identified and in 30 cases relatives or friends were interviewed about the circumstances of death and other information which allowed to classify the patients as SUDEP or not. The death certificates were also reviewed. We found 20 cases of SUDEP. Most of them were found dead lying on the bed with no evidence of seizure event, and most of them had pulmonary and/or cerebral edema as the cause of death. The incidence and the risk of SUDEP can only be fully ascertained if all sudden deaths had postmortem examination. Consensus in certifying SUDEP cases would allow better accuracy in national mortality rate.

【 授权许可】

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