Clinical features of convulsive status epilepticus: a study of 220 cases in western China.
OBJECTIVE
Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is the most common and life-threatening form of status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of CSE in western China.


METHODS
Convulsive status epilepticus patients hospitalized from January 1996 to October 2007 were prospectively observed. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of prognosis.


RESULTS
The average age of CSE patients (n = 220) was 37.5 years (SD 20.31), 50% of the patients had a history of epilepsy. The primary cause of CSE was central nervous system infection (32.7%), followed by discontinuation or reduction of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; 15.5%). The median duration of CSE was 5 h and median duration of seizures before treatment was 2 h; both were longer in rural patients than in urban patients (P < 0.05). The fatality rate on discharge was 15.9%. Logistic regression analysis showed the duration of CSE [odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.07], a history of epilepsy (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.89), and respiratory depression (OR 5.96, 95% CI 2.49-14.24) were independent predictors of CSE prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Central nervous system infection and AEDs withdrawal in epilepsy patients were the most important causes of CSE. There is a large gap between antiepileptic therapy in China and European Status Epilepticus guidelines.
Chen
L
L
Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Zhou
B
B
Li
J M
JM
Zhu
Y
Y
Wang
J H
JH
Sander
J W
JW
Stefan
H
H
Zhou
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants