Pediatric experience with sudden unexplained death in epilepsy at a tertiary epilepsy center.
Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy is rare in children, and few studies report risk factors. We reviewed our experience with 17 cases of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy to determine risk factors in children. The charts of all patients with onset of epilepsy at less than age 18 years who suffered sudden unexplained death in epilepsy between August 1992 and April 2004 at our epilepsy center were retrospectively reviewed. Deaths were classified as possible, probable, or definite sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. There were seven cases of definite, nine cases of probable, and one case of possible sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures and prone position during sleep were found to be major risk factors. Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy in children and adolescents is associated with convulsive seizures, and aggressive treatment of nocturnal generalized tonic-clonic seizures might help lower the occurrence.
McGregor
Amy
A
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, LeBonheur Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 777 Washington Avenue, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. amy.mcgregor@utmg.org
Wheless
James
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000401:mortality*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000401:mortality; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology