Risk factors of status epilepticus in children.
BACKGROUND
Although there is abundant literature about the morbidity and mortality rates of status epilepticus (SE), little is known about the risk factors of this medical emergency. The aim of the present study is to assess the risk factors of SE in children.


METHODS
The authors reviewed the medical records of 83 patients admitted to the Pediatric Neurology Unit of Trakya University Hospital, Edirne, Turkey from January 1994 to December 2001 with the diagnosis of SE. Eighty-three patients were compared with 166 controls who were admitted to the same unit due to non-status epilepticus (non-SE) seizure.


RESULTS
The univariate analysis demonstrated that SE episodes were significantly associated with a history of birth asphyxia, neonatal seizure, discontinuation of antiepileptic medication, epilepsy, partial seizure evolving to secondary generalized seizures, myoclonic seizure, generalized abnormalities in the neurological examination, neuromotor retardation, generalized background abnormalities on electroencephalogram (EEG), generalized abnormalities on neuroimaging and polypharmacy than non-SE episodes. Logistic regression was used to test the independence of these parameters as predictors of SE risk. Four parameters emerged as significant independent predictors of SE in children in multiple logistic regression: polypharmacy (Odds ratio (OR) 5.17, P = 0.0004), discontinuation of antiepileptic medication (OR 4.04, P = 0.0095), neuromotor retardation (OR 4.03, P = 0.0016) and generalized background abnormalities on EEG (OR 2.48, P = 0.0419).


CONCLUSIONS
Polypharmacy, discontinuation of antiepileptic medication, neuromotor retardation and generalized background abnormalities on EEG are indicators in children of a higher risk of SE.
KarasalIhoGlu
Serap
S
Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Trakya, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Oner
Naci
N
CeLtik
CoSkun
C
Celik
Yahya
Y
Biner
Betül
B
Utku
Ufuk
U
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*