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Published on: January 29, 2018
Sudden unexplained death in children with epilepsy: a cohort study with an eighteen-year follow-up
Peter Weber1, Reinhard Bubl, Ursula Blauenstein
1Department of Neuropaediatrics, Basel University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. peter.weber@unibas.ch
Aim:
Sudden unexplained death is a significant cause of mortality in adults with epilepsy. Only a few data exist about this risk in childhood.
Methods:
Cases of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) up to the age of 18 y occurring at our hospital between 1984 and 2001 were identified. The incidence rate was calculated on the basis of diagnosed epileptics registered with a statutory disability insurance scheme.
Results:
Four cases of SUDEP were identified during the 18-y period. The incidence of SUDEP was 4.3 per 10,000 patient-years. All children showed polytherapy-refractory epilepsy, developmental retardation and early-onset epilepsy. Two witnessed cases had shown no previous signs of seizure.
Conclusion:
SUDEP is rare in childhood. Children with uncomplicated epilepsy seem not to be at risk.
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