Background: Sudden unexpected death of epilepsy (SUDEP) is a severe outcome of epilepsy. This study aimed to\nreport the clinical and pathological findings in patients with SUDEP.\nMethods: The record of patients with sudden death was screened. When the reason of death matched with the\ndefinition of SUDEP, the clinical and pathological data were analyzed. Eleven patients with SUDEP were included in\nthe study.\nResults: Eight patients died after a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, seizures were induced by emotional changes in\nfive patients, four cases were found dead in bed. Carbamazepine was prescribed in six patients. The autopsy\nshowed brain edema and pulmonary edema in all eleven patients. Loss of neurons and gliosis were presented in\nsome brains of SUDEP subjects. The main pathological changes in SUDEP include brain edema, pulmonary edema,\nloss of neurons and gliosis.\nConclusions: Risk factors for SUDEP in the study are generalized tonic-clonic seizure, emotional disturbance and\ncarbamazepine treatment.
Loading....