Periictal cardiorespiratory dysfunction, sleep-disordered breathing, and endocrine dysfunction have all been linked to sudden unexpected death from epilepsy (SUDEP).
- Investigators conducted a prospective observational study on 30 patients in the Columbia University Medical Center’s adult epilepsy monitoring unit.
- Their analysis found that patients who were at high risk for SUDEP were more likely to experience cardiorespiratory dysfunction (60% vs 27%).
- Sleep-disordered breathing was found in 88% of patients with inpatient or outpatient polysomnography results that were fully scorable.
- The researchers also found endocrine dysfunction in 35% of patients, with men more likely to experience the problem.
- The analysis did not detect a significant relationship between cardiorespiratory dysfunction, sleep-disordered breathing, and neuroendocrine status.
Billakota S, Odom N, Westwood AJ, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing, neuroendocrine function, and clinical SUDEP risk in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;87:78-82.
