Epilepsy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epilepsy, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, drugs, information.

Sudden death in epilepsy recorded in ambulatory EEG.

McLean BN, Wimalaratna S

Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, UK.

A woman with epilepsy died during a seizure and the event was recorded on ambulatory EEG. The circumstances were typical of sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The EEG revealed that the patient had suffered a generalised seizure that abruptly ended with cessation of all cerebral electrical activity. Two other cases recorded on videotelemetry demonstrating similar EEG features were reported in the literature. We postulate that abrupt irreversible cerebral electrical shutdown during a seizure may be the primary mechanism of SUDEP.

Published 20 November 2007 in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 78(12): 1395-7.
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