SUDEP
Pronunciation: SOO-dep
Also written as: SUDEP — Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy; the sudden death of a person with epilepsy who was previously in their usual state of health.
Full Definition
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) represents the most serious complication of epilepsy, accounting for up to 17% of deaths in people with epilepsy. SUDEP is defined as the sudden, unexpected, witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic, and non-drowning death of a patient with epilepsy, with or without evidence of a seizure, excluding documented status epilepticus. Risk factors include young adult age, early onset epilepsy, frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and suboptimal seizure control. The exact mechanisms remain unclear but likely involve respiratory, cardiac, and brainstem dysfunction during or following seizures.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
In Context
- "The family was counseled about SUDEP risk factors and the importance of optimal seizure control." — Epilepsy counseling documentation
- "SUDEP rates are significantly higher in patients with frequent nocturnal generalized tonic-clonic seizures." — Epidemiological study