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Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

MedGen UID:
930396
Concept ID:
C4304727
Finding
Synonyms: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy; SUDEP
SNOMED CT: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (719425009); SUDEP - sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (719425009)
 
HPO: HP:0033258

Definition

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a sudden, unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic and non-drowning death, occurring in benign circumstances, in an individual with epilepsy, with or without evidence for a seizure and excluding documented status epilepticus, in which postmortem examination has not revealed a cause of death. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVSudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Conditions with this feature

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 13
MedGen UID:
482821
Concept ID:
C3281191
Disease or Syndrome
SCN8A-related epilepsy with encephalopathy is characterized by developmental delay, seizure onset in the first 18 months of life (mean 4 months), and intractable epilepsy characterized by multiple seizure types (generalized tonic-clonic seizures, infantile spasms, and absence and focal seizures). Epilepsy syndromes can include Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, West syndrome, and epileptic encephalopathies (e.g., Dravet syndrome). Hypotonia and movement disorders including dystonia, ataxia, and choreoathetosis are common. Psychomotor development varies from normal prior to seizure onset (with subsequent slowing or regression after seizure onset) to abnormal from birth. Intellectual disability, present in all, ranges from mild to severe (in ~50% of affected individuals). Autistic features are noted in some. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) of unknown cause has been reported in approximately 10% of published cases. To date SCN8A-related epilepsy with encephalopathy has been reported in the literature in about 50 individuals.
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 16
MedGen UID:
815503
Concept ID:
C3809173
Disease or Syndrome
TBC1D24-related disorders comprise a continuum of features that were originally described as distinct, recognized phenotypes: DOORS syndrome (deafness, onychodystrophy, osteodystrophy, mental retardation, and seizures). Profound sensorineural hearing loss, onychodystrophy, osteodystrophy, intellectual disability / developmental delay, and seizures. Familial infantile myoclonic epilepsy (FIME). Early-onset myoclonic seizures, focal epilepsy, dysarthria, and mild-to-moderate intellectual disability. Progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME). Action myoclonus, tonic-clonic seizures, progressive neurologic decline, and ataxia. Early-infantile epileptic encephalopathy 16 (EIEE16). Epileptiform EEG abnormalities which themselves are believed to contribute to progressive disturbance in cerebral function. Autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss, DFNB86. Profound prelingual deafness. Autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss, DFNA65. Slowly progressive deafness with onset in the third decade, initially affecting the high frequencies.
Bilateral parasagittal parieto-occipital polymicrogyria
MedGen UID:
862085
Concept ID:
C4013648
Disease or Syndrome
Polymicrogyria is a condition characterized by abnormal development of the brain before birth. The surface of the brain normally has many ridges or folds, called gyri. In people with polymicrogyria, the brain develops too many folds, and the folds are unusually small. The name of this condition literally means too many (poly-) small (micro-) folds (-gyria) in the surface of the brain.\n\nPolymicrogyria can affect part of the brain or the whole brain. When the condition affects one side of the brain, researchers describe it as unilateral. When it affects both sides of the brain, it is described as bilateral. The signs and symptoms associated with polymicrogyria depend on how much of the brain, and which particular brain regions, are affected.\n\nResearchers have identified multiple forms of polymicrogyria. The mildest form is known as unilateral focal polymicrogyria. This form of the condition affects a relatively small area on one side of the brain. It may cause minor neurological problems, such as mild seizures that can be easily controlled with medication. Some people with unilateral focal polymicrogyria do not have any problems associated with the condition.\n\nPolymicrogyria most often occurs as an isolated feature, although it can occur with other brain abnormalities. It is also a feature of several genetic syndromes characterized by intellectual disability and multiple birth defects. These include 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Adams-Oliver syndrome, Aicardi syndrome, Galloway-Mowat syndrome, Joubert syndrome, and Zellweger spectrum disorder.\n\nBilateral forms of polymicrogyria tend to cause more severe neurological problems. Signs and symptoms of these conditions can include recurrent seizures (epilepsy), delayed development, crossed eyes, problems with speech and swallowing, and muscle weakness or paralysis. The most severe form of the disorder, bilateral generalized polymicrogyria, affects the entire brain. This condition causes severe intellectual disability, problems with movement, and seizures that are difficult or impossible to control with medication.
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 40
MedGen UID:
934704
Concept ID:
C4310737
Disease or Syndrome
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy-40 (DEE40) is an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder characterized by the onset of refractory infantile spasms within the first 6 months of life. Affected infants may have normal or mildly delayed development before the onset of seizures, but thereafter show developmental stagnation and severe neurologic impairment. EEG typically shows hypsarrhythmia, consistent with a clinical diagnosis of West syndrome. Additional features include poor feeding, axial hypotonia with peripheral spasticity, limited eye contact, profoundly impaired intellectual development with absent language, and poor fine motor skills (summary by Alfaiz et al., 2016). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of DEE, see 308350.
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 63
MedGen UID:
1646846
Concept ID:
C4693810
Disease or Syndrome
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy-63 (DEE63) is an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder characterized by early-onset refractory infantile spasms and myoclonic seizures in the first months to years of life. Affected individuals have severe to profound developmental delay, often with hypotonia and inability to sit or speak (summary by Redler et al., 2017). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of DEE, see 308350.
Li-Campeau syndrome
MedGen UID:
1788485
Concept ID:
C5543068
Disease or Syndrome
Li-Campeau syndrome (LICAS) is an autosomal recessive syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay with impaired intellectual development, dysmorphic facial features, hypothyroidism, and variable abnormalities of the cardiac and genital systems. Additional features may include seizures, short stature, hypotonia, and brain imaging anomalies, such as cortical atrophy (summary by Li et al., 2021).
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 6B
MedGen UID:
1779648
Concept ID:
C5543353
Disease or Syndrome
SCN1A seizure disorders encompass a spectrum that ranges from simple febrile seizures and generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) at the mild end to Dravet syndrome and intractable childhood epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (ICE-GTC) at the severe end. Phenotypes with intractable seizures including Dravet syndrome are often associated with cognitive decline. Less commonly observed phenotypes include myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE), Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, infantile spasms, epilepsy with focal seizures, and vaccine-related encephalopathy and seizures. The phenotype of SCN1A seizure disorders can vary even within the same family.
Neurodevelopmental disorder with dystonia and seizures
MedGen UID:
1804461
Concept ID:
C5677004
Disease or Syndrome
Neurodevelopmental disorder with dystonia and seizures (NEDDS) is a severe autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypotonia and dystonic posturing apparent from early infancy. Affected individuals show global developmental delay with inability to walk or speak and have profoundly impaired intellectual development, often with behavioral abnormalities. Additional features may include other extrapyramidal movements, seizures or seizure-like activity, and cerebellar hypoplasia on brain imaging (Sleiman et al., 2022).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

He Z, Li Y, Zhao X, Li B
Epilepsy Res 2022 Dec;188:107041. Epub 2022 Oct 29 doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.107041. PMID: 36368227
Wheless JW, Fulton SP, Mudigoudar BD
Pediatr Neurol 2020 Jun;107:28-40. Epub 2020 Jan 31 doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.01.005. PMID: 32165031
Harden C, Tomson T, Gloss D, Buchhalter J, Cross JH, Donner E, French JA, Gil-Nagel A, Hesdorffer DC, Smithson WH, Spitz MC, Walczak TS, Sander JW, Ryvlin P
Neurology 2017 Apr 25;88(17):1674-1680. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000003685. PMID: 28438841

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Buchanan GF, Maciel ATN, Summerfield MJ
Curr Opin Neurol 2023 Apr 1;36(2):102-109. Epub 2023 Feb 7 doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001135. PMID: 36762662
Salanova V, Sperling MR, Gross RE, Irwin CP, Vollhaber JA, Giftakis JE, Fisher RS; SANTÉ Study Group
Epilepsia 2021 Jun;62(6):1306-1317. Epub 2021 Apr 8 doi: 10.1111/epi.16895. PMID: 33830503
Wheless JW, Fulton SP, Mudigoudar BD
Pediatr Neurol 2020 Jun;107:28-40. Epub 2020 Jan 31 doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.01.005. PMID: 32165031
Sen A, Jette N, Husain M, Sander JW
Lancet 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):735-748. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33064-8. PMID: 32113502
Devinsky O, Hesdorffer DC, Thurman DJ, Lhatoo S, Richerson G
Lancet Neurol 2016 Sep;15(10):1075-88. Epub 2016 Aug 8 doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(16)30158-2. PMID: 27571159

Diagnosis

Samanta D
Epilepsy Behav 2022 May;130:108678. Epub 2022 Apr 14 doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108678. PMID: 35429726
Moore JL, Carvalho DZ, St Louis EK, Bazil C
Neurotherapeutics 2021 Jan;18(1):170-180. Epub 2021 Mar 30 doi: 10.1007/s13311-021-01021-w. PMID: 33786803Free PMC Article
Wheless JW, Fulton SP, Mudigoudar BD
Pediatr Neurol 2020 Jun;107:28-40. Epub 2020 Jan 31 doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.01.005. PMID: 32165031
Sen A, Jette N, Husain M, Sander JW
Lancet 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):735-748. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33064-8. PMID: 32113502
Beghi E
Neuroepidemiology 2020;54(2):185-191. Epub 2019 Dec 18 doi: 10.1159/000503831. PMID: 31852003

Therapy

He Z, Li Y, Zhao X, Li B
Epilepsy Res 2022 Dec;188:107041. Epub 2022 Oct 29 doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.107041. PMID: 36368227
Salanova V, Sperling MR, Gross RE, Irwin CP, Vollhaber JA, Giftakis JE, Fisher RS; SANTÉ Study Group
Epilepsia 2021 Jun;62(6):1306-1317. Epub 2021 Apr 8 doi: 10.1111/epi.16895. PMID: 33830503
Moore JL, Carvalho DZ, St Louis EK, Bazil C
Neurotherapeutics 2021 Jan;18(1):170-180. Epub 2021 Mar 30 doi: 10.1007/s13311-021-01021-w. PMID: 33786803Free PMC Article
Wheless JW, Fulton SP, Mudigoudar BD
Pediatr Neurol 2020 Jun;107:28-40. Epub 2020 Jan 31 doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.01.005. PMID: 32165031
Sen A, Jette N, Husain M, Sander JW
Lancet 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):735-748. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33064-8. PMID: 32113502

Prognosis

He Z, Li Y, Zhao X, Li B
Epilepsy Res 2022 Dec;188:107041. Epub 2022 Oct 29 doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.107041. PMID: 36368227
Salanova V, Sperling MR, Gross RE, Irwin CP, Vollhaber JA, Giftakis JE, Fisher RS; SANTÉ Study Group
Epilepsia 2021 Jun;62(6):1306-1317. Epub 2021 Apr 8 doi: 10.1111/epi.16895. PMID: 33830503
Wheless JW, Fulton SP, Mudigoudar BD
Pediatr Neurol 2020 Jun;107:28-40. Epub 2020 Jan 31 doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.01.005. PMID: 32165031
Sen A, Jette N, Husain M, Sander JW
Lancet 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):735-748. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33064-8. PMID: 32113502
Beghi E
Neuroepidemiology 2020;54(2):185-191. Epub 2019 Dec 18 doi: 10.1159/000503831. PMID: 31852003

Clinical prediction guides

Peltola J, Colon AJ, Pimentel J, Coenen VA, Gil-Nagel A, Gonçalves Ferreira A, Lehtimäki K, Ryvlin P, Taylor RS, Ackermans L, Ardesch J, Bentes C, Bosak M, Burneo JG, Chamadoira C, Elger CE, Erőss L, Fabo D, Faulkner H, Gawlowicz J, Gharabaghi A, Iacoangeli M, Janszky J, Järvenpää S, Kaufmann E, Kho KH, Kumlien E, Laufs H, Lettieri C, Linhares P, Noachtar S, Parrent A, Pataraia E, Patel NK, Peralta AR, Rácz A, Campos AR, Rego R, Ricciuti RA, Rona S, Rouhl RPW, Schulze-Bonhage A, Schuurman R, Sprengers M, Sufianov A, Temel Y, Theys T, Van Paesschen W, Van Roost D, Vaz R, Vonck K, Wagner L, Zwemmer J, Abouihia A, Brionne TC, Gielen F, Boon PAJM; MORE Study Group
Neurology 2023 May 2;100(18):e1852-e1865. Epub 2023 Mar 16 doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000206887. PMID: 36927882Free PMC Article
Giussani G, Falcicchio G, La Neve A, Costagliola G, Striano P, Scarabello A, Mostacci B, Beghi E; LICE SUDEP study group
Epilepsia Open 2023 Sep;8(3):728-757. Epub 2023 May 17 doi: 10.1002/epi4.12722. PMID: 36896633Free PMC Article
Donnan AM, Schneider AL, Russ-Hall S, Churilov L, Scheffer IE
Neurology 2023 Apr 18;100(16):e1712-e1722. Epub 2023 Feb 7 doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207080. PMID: 36750385Free PMC Article
Gu B, Adeli H
Rev Neurosci 2022 Dec 16;33(8):877-887. Epub 2022 May 27 doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2022-0024. PMID: 35619127
DeGiorgio CM, Curtis A, Hertling D, Moseley BD
Acta Neurol Scand 2019 Mar;139(3):220-230. Epub 2018 Dec 11 doi: 10.1111/ane.13049. PMID: 30443951

Recent systematic reviews

Evangelista G, Dono F, Consoli S, Lanzone J, Corniello C, Russo M, Anzellotti F, Onofrj M, Vollono C, Sensi SL
Eur J Neurol 2023 Jul;30(7):2122-2131. Epub 2023 Apr 6 doi: 10.1111/ene.15792. PMID: 36932903
Liu Z, Thergarajan P, Antonic-Baker A, Chen Z, Sparks PB, Lannin NA, Kwan P, Jones NC, Casillas-Espinosa PM, Perucca P, O'Brien TJ, Sivathamboo S
Epilepsia Open 2023 Mar;8(1):46-59. Epub 2023 Jan 31 doi: 10.1002/epi4.12692. PMID: 36648338Free PMC Article
Rheims S, Sperling MR, Ryvlin P
Epilepsia 2022 Dec;63(12):3020-3036. Epub 2022 Oct 20 doi: 10.1111/epi.17413. PMID: 36114753Free PMC Article
Bunschoten JW, Husein N, Devinsky O, French JA, Sander JW, Thijs RD, Keezer MR
Neurology 2022 Apr 26;98(17):e1748-e1760. Epub 2022 Mar 8 doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200164. PMID: 35260442
Ali A, Wu S, Issa NP, Rose S, Towle VL, Warnke P, Tao JX
Epilepsy Behav 2017 Nov;76:1-6. Epub 2017 Sep 13 doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.08.021. PMID: 28917499

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