Status Epilepticus in Acute Settings
Authors: Waterhouse Elizabeth 
Published: December 2022

Status Epilepticus Arising De Novo in Hospitalized Patients: An Analysis of 41 Patients

Delanty N, French JA, Labar DR, Pedley TA, Rowan AJ

Seizure 2001;10: 116–119

Most of the information on predisposing factors and mortality in status epilepticus (SE) arises from data obtained from patients presenting to the casualty department. However, another population which is frequently seen by consultative neurologists are medically ill patients who develop SE while in hospital. These patients are often notoriously difficult to treat once SE arises. We sought to characterize patients at risk for SE arising when they are hospitalized for other reasons. By doing this, risk factors for developing SE and prognostic indicators might be determined. We retrospectively reviewed records from three urban hospitals in the United States to identify hospitalized patients developing SE over a 1 year period. SE was defined as a clinical seizure lasting 30 minutes or longer, or repeated seizures without recovery. Patients who were admitted in SE or for an epilepsy-related problem, or who were less than 1 year old were excluded from the study. Forty-one patients with in-hospital SE were identified. There were 28 males and 13 females with an age range from 1 to 91 years (mean: 60 years, median: 65 years). The mean interval from hospital admission to the onset of status epilepticus was 26 days. Nineteen (46%) patients had a prior history of either epilepsy or symptomatic seizures, and of these, 10 were inadequately treated as judged by serum anticonvulsant levels at the time SE developed. Focal brain abnormality was present in 26 (63%) patients, the most common of which was stroke (17 patients). Major metabolic derangements including hypoxia, electrolyte imbalance, hepatic encephalopathy, and sepsis were present in 23 (56%) patients. Eleven (27%) patients were being treated with theophylline preparations at the time SE developed. Mortality in this group of patients with in-hospital SE was 61% (25 deaths), with about one-third dying while in status, and two-thirds dying subsequently in hospital. In this retrospective study, there was no clear relationship between mortality and the duration of SE in this group of patients. In-hospital development of SE is usually related to underlying focal brain abnormality, especially stroke, in combination with systemic metabolic derangement. Prognosis is poor, and appears to be more related to underlying conditions rather than to status duration. More accurate prospective studies are warranted.

Status Epilepticus After Stroke

Velioglu SK, Ozmenoglu M, Boz C, Alioglu Z

Stroke 2001;32:1169–1172

Background and Purpose

Objective of our study was to determine the risk and predictive factors of status epilepticus (SE) after stroke.

Methods

From 1988 to 2000, 1174 patients were admitted to the Department of Neurology at the Karadeniz Technical University Farabi Hospital with first-time strokes. Of these, 180 patients had poststroke first-time seizures (PFSs). We followed these 180 PFS patients for an average of 3.7 years or until death to determine the occurrence rate of SE. By comparing these data with those of PFS patients without SE, we investigated whether there were significant differences.

Results

A total of 17 of the 180 PFS patients (9%) had SE. There was no relationship between the occurrence of SE and stroke risk factors, stroke type (ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke), stroke topography and cause, cortical involvement, size of lesion, seizure type, or electroencephalographic findings. SE occurred more frequently among patients with a higher disability rating (Rankin scale >3; odds ratio, 4.36). Recurrent SE was identified in 5 of 17 patients with SE. In all 5 of these patients, the first episode of SE occurred within the first 7 days after stroke (early-onset SE). Statistical analysis demonstrated that early-onset SE was associated with a higher risk for SE recurrence (P=0.003) and a higher mortality rate (P=0.04).

Conclusions

SE was not associated with a higher mortality rate but with higher functional disability. We also found that early-onset SE (within the first 7 days after stroke) was associated with a higher risk for SE recurrence and a higher mortality rate than late-onset SE (after 7 days after stroke).