Status epilepticus in the elderly: etiology, seizure type and outcome

We have studied status epilepticus among 342 patients who had their first seizures after the age of 60 years. One hundred and two patients (30%) had status epilepticus. Cerebrovascular disease (35%) was the leading cause of status, followed by head trauma (21%), multifactorial etiology (11%), metabolic disorders (10%), brain tumors (8%) and CNS infection (2%). The etiology of status remained undetermined in 13 patients (13%). The majority (80%) had partial status or generalized status with focal onset. Overall mortality was 35%.