[Morbidity and mortality of status epilepticus]

The outcome of status epilepticus (SE) depends on its cause, clinical presentation, duration, treatment, and the patient's age. It has been estimated that in nearly all cases (about 98%), mortality is directly or indirectly due to the underlying disorder. It is particularly significant in generalized tonic-clonic SE. The clinical presentation of SE is strongly cause-dependent, and its etiology is markedly age-dependent in infants, children, young adults and the elderly. When SE is of long duration, due to its etiology, delayed treatment, or inappropriate drug administration, it results in brain lesions and the accompanying risk of sequelae or death. The highest mortality rates in SE are those at the extremes of the average life-span, i.e., in infants and young children and in the elderly. Possible SE sequelae are neurologic deficits or cognitive impairment, and/or unprovoked seizures. The outcome in cases of SE has considerably improved due to the early prescription of effective antiepileptic drugs.