Objective: In 2015, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) proposed a new definition of status epilepticus (SE): 5 minutes of ongoing seizure activity to diagnose convulsive SE (CSE, ie, bilateral tonic-clonic SE) and 10 minutes for focal SE and absence SE, rather than the earlier criterion of 30 minutes. Based on semiology, several types of SE with prominent motor phenomena at any time (including CSE) were distinguished from those without (ie, nonconvulsive SE, NCSE). We present the first population-based incidence study applying the new 2015 ILAE definition and classification of SE and report the impact of the evolution of semiology and level of consciousness (LOC) on outcome. Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based incidence study of all adult patients with SE residing in the city of Salzburg between January 2011 and December 2015. Patients with hypoxic encephalopathy were excluded. SE was defined and classified according to the ILAE 2015. Results: We identified 221 patients with a median age of 69 years (range 20-99 years). The age-and sex-adjusted incidence of a first episode of SE, NCSE, and SE with prominent motor phenomena (including CSE) was 36.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 26.2-48.5), 12.1 (95% CI 6.8-20.0), and 24.0 (95% CI 16.0-34.5; including CSE 15.8 [95% CI 9.4-24.8]) per 100 000 adults per year, respectively.None of the patients whose SE ended with or consisted of only bilateral tonic-clonic activity died. In all other clinical presentations, case fatality was lower in awake patients (8.2%) compared with patients with impaired consciousness (33%). Significance: This first population-based study using the ILAE 2015 definition and classification of SE found an increase of incidence of 10% compared to previous definitions. We also provide epidemiologic evidence that different patterns of status evolution and LOCs have strong prognostic implications.Leitinger and Trinka joint first authors ---

SUMMARYPurpose: Death rates of patients with epilepsy are two to three times higher than expected. The aim of our study was to further delineate the causes and the patterns of premature death in patients with epilepsy. Methods: We included all patients who were prospectively enrolled between 1970 and 1999 in our epilepsy outpatient clinical database. Patients were followed until death or December 31, 2003. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using reference rates from the same region. Key Findings: After 48,595 person years of follow-up, 648 of 3,334 patients had died, resulting in an overall SMR of 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0-2.4). The highest SMRs were for patients aged 26-45 years (6.8, 95% CI 3.8-11.2) and with symptomatic epilepsies (3.1, 95% CI 2.3-4.9); those for cryptogenic causes (2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.1) were also elevated, whereas those for idiopathic causes were not increased (2.7, 95% CI 0.7-7.0) after 2 years of follow-up. SMRs for patients with persistent seizures (3.3, 95% CI 2.6-4.4) were higher than those for seizure-free patients (1.4, 95% CI 0.8-2.3). The highest cause-specific SMRs were for epilepsy (91.6, 95% CI 66.3-123.4), brain tumors (22.7, 95% CI 15.7-31.8), and external causes (2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.3) at end of study period. Significance: Epilepsy patients have a higher-thanexpected risk of death throughout life and especially during the first 2 years following diagnosis. Standardized mortality rates were especially high in younger patients and in patients with symptomatic epilepsies. Persistent seizures are strongly related to excess mortality.

Epilepsy is a devastating condition with a considerable increase in mortality compared to the general population. Few studies have focused on cause-specific mortality which we analyse in detail in over 4,000 well-characterized epilepsy patients. The cohort comprised of epilepsy patients ≥18, treated between 1970 and 2009 at the epilepsy clinic of Innsbruck Medical University, Austria, and living in the province of Tyrol, Austria. Epilepsy diagnosis was based on ILAE guidelines (1989); patients with brain tumor were excluded. Deceased patients and causes of death (ICD-codes) were obtained via record linkage to the national death registry. We computed age-, sex-, and period-adjusted standardized mortality rates (SMR) for 36 diagnoses subgroups in four major groups. Additional analyses were performed for an incidence cohort. Overall cohort: 4,295 patients, 60,649.1 person-years, 822 deaths, overall SMR 1.7 (95 % CI 1.6–1.9), highest elevated cause-specific SMR: congenital anomalies [7.1 (95 % CI 2.3–16.6)], suicide [4.2 (95 % CI 2.0–8.1)], alcohol dependence syndrome [3.9 (95 % CI 1.8–7.4)], malignant neoplasm of esophagus [3.1 (95 % CI 1.2–6.4)], pneumonia [2.7 (95 % CI 1.6–4.2)]. Incidence cohort: 1,299 patients, 14,215.4 person-years, 267 deaths, overall SMR 1.8 (95 % CI 1.6–2.1), highest elevated cause-specific SMR congenital anomalies [10.8 (95 % CI 1.3–39.3)], suicide [6.8 (95 % CI 1.4–19.8)], alcohol dependence syndrome (6.4 [95 % CI 1.8–16.5)], pneumonia [3.9 (95 % CI 1.8–7.4)], cerebrovascular disease at 3.5 (95 % CI 2.6–4.6). Mortality due to mental health problems, such as suicide or alcohol dependence syndrome, malignant neoplasms, and cerebrovascular diseases was highly increased in our study. In addition to aim for seizure freedom, we suggest improving general health promotion, including cessation of smoking, lowering of alcohol intake, and reduction of weight as well as early identification of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy.

Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe neurologic condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Population-based studies in adults have found a wide range of incidences in various regions in the world. Although the incidence of SE increases almost exponentially in the elderly, data on census-based population statistics in these studies are scarce. This study provides a critical review with an emphasis on census-based population statistics and study characteristics in adults. Methods: We performed a systematic search of population-based studies on SE in adults in PubMed using "status epilepticus" in combination with "epidemiology", "population", and "incidence" as search terms, and also screened references. For each identified study, we assessed and extracted the respective population pyramids of study and reference population, and study characteristics. Results: We identified 22 population-based studies (eleven from Europe, six from North America, three from Asia, one from Africa, and one from Australasia). Incidence rates of patients with SE ranged from 1.29 to 73.7/100,000 adults (95% confidence interval (CI): 76.6-80.3) and of SE episodes up to 81.1/100,000 adults (95% CI: 75.8-87.0). The proportions of elderly and very old patients varied by a factor of 2.6 and 8.5, respectively, depending on study period and place. Further major reasons for heterogeneity were retrospective or prospective study design, definition of time to diagnose SE, variable detection of nonconvulsive SE (NCSE), different etiologies, inclusion of children, recurrent episodes, postanoxic patients, exclusion of patients with preexisting epilepsy or patients identified outside the emergency department, and choice of reference population for age-and gender adjustment. The most recent definition and classification of SE by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 2015 was used in two studies. Four studies (18.2%) reported incidences per ten-year age strata necessary for age adjustment to various reference populations. Conclusions: This critical review reveals a marked heterogeneity among population-based studies on SE in adults. It provides comprehensive details on census-based population statistics in study and reference populations and various study designs and characteristics essential for direct comparisons between studies. Reporting on these essential key features should be improved in population-based studies on SE.

SUMMARYObjective: The risk of premature death is increased in patients with intractable epilepsy. The effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on mortality remains unclear. In a previous study by Annegers et al., mortality was raised, comparable to similar intractable cohorts. Our aim was to calculate standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), identify epilepsy-related deaths, and estimate sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) rates in patients treated with VNS for epilepsy. Methods: All United Kingdom patients undergoing VNS between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2010 at King's College Hospital, London were flagged through the national Medical Research Information Service. Analysis was performed in relation to all deaths occurring by December 31, 2010. Deceased patients were identified from the national death register, and additional information on cause and circumstances of death sought where appropriate to allow for classification of deaths. Results: The cohort consisted of 466 patients, with 2993.83 person-years of follow-up and a median observation period of 5.9 years. Twenty-nine deaths occurred, 27 with the device active. SMR was 7.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.8-10.3) for the active device; 12 deaths were considered epilepsy related, including 10 definite or probable SUDEP and one fatal near SUDEP. Definite/probable and fatal near SUDEP occurred at a rate of 3.7/1,000 person-years. SMRs decreased from 10.5 (5.6-19.5) in the first 2 years after implantation to 5.9 (3.7-9.5) thereafter, although CIs overlapped. SU-DEP rates did not alter over time. Significance: SMRs and SUDEP rate in this study are comparable to other cohorts with intractable epilepsy, with SUDEP an important cause of death. VNS does not appear to lower the risk of premature death overall. There was a clear trend with lower SMR after 2 years of implantation, although CIs overlapped. SUDEP rates, however, did not change.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse registry data of seizure outcome and adverse events (AEs) for perampanel as add-on therapy in patients with focal epilepsy since its approval in 2012 for adjunctive treatment of focal epilepsy in patients ⩾12 years. Method: A retrospective 2-year chart review of all patients receiving perampanel was carried out. Results: A total of 122 patients received perampanel [median treatment length: 20.1 (range: 3.4-26.8) months]; 71 (58%) remained on treatment at last follow up. Overall, 33 patients (27%) were seizure-free for ⩾3 months at last follow up; of these, eight were seizure free for ⩾3 times the longest interictal interval before perampanel therapy; 18 (15%) had reduced seizure frequency ⩾50%. A total of 58 (47%) had an AE and 34 (28%) withdrew from treatment because of AEs. AEs included dizziness (33%), fatigue (12%), psychiatric symptoms (8%), cognitive deficits (7%), speech problems (5%), nausea (4%) and gait problems (4%). AEs subsided in 17/18 patients (94%) following a 2 mg dose reduction. A total of 43 (35%) took a concomitant enzyme inducer. Patients not taking enzyme inducers were more likely to be seizure free (p = 0.002); there were no other between-group differences. Conclusions: Perampanel was well tolerated and improved seizure control in 42% of patients (50-100% reduction), with higher rates in those not receiving a concomitant enzyme inducer. AEs, particularly dizziness, were common but often disappeared with a slight dose reduction. The results are consistent with those from randomized controlled trials.

IntroductionThere is limited information on ictal unilateral eye blinking (UEB) as a lateralizing sign in focal seizures. We identified two patients with UEB and propose a novel mechanism of UEB based on a review of the literature.Materials and methodsWe report on two patients with intractable focal epilepsy showing UEB among 269 consecutive patients undergoing noninvasive video-EEG monitoring from October 2011 to May 2013.ResultsUnilateral eye blinking was observed in 0.7% (two of 269) of our patients. Patient one had four focal seizures. Semiological signs in all of her seizures were impaired consciousness, bilateral eye blinking (BEB), and UEB on the right. During one seizure, BEB recurred after UEB with a higher blink frequency on the right. Patient two had ten focal seizures. Among them were one electrographic seizure and nine focal seizures with BEB (in 3/10) and UEB on the left (in 1/10 seizures, respectively). Both patients did not display any clonic activity of the face. In seizures with UEB, ictal EEG onset was observed over the ipsilateral frontotemporal region in both of the patients (over F8 in 2/4, Fp2-F8 in 1/4, Sp2-T2 in 1/4, and F7 in 1/1 seizures, respectively). Ictal pattern during UEB showed bilateral ictal activity (in 4/4) and ictal discharges over the ipsilateral frontal region (maximum over F3 in 1/1 seizure). Interictal EEG showed sharp waves over the same regions.DiscussionUnilateral eye blinking was ipsilateral to the frontotemporal ictal EEG pattern in both patients. The asymmetric blink frequency during BEB in patient one leads to the hypothesis that ictal UEB is caused by contralateral blink inhibition due to activation in frontotemporal cortical areas and mediated by trigeminal fibers.

SUMMARYPurpose: To report mortality, after a longer interval, in a cohort of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy treated by temporal lobe surgery between 1975 and 1995. A previous audit of these patients ending December 1, 1997 observed a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 4.5. Methods: We analyzed mortality in a cohort of 306 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent temporal lobe resections between December 1, 1975 and December 1, 1995. Deaths occurring after December 1,1997 and until December 1, 2009 were evaluated. Medical records, death certificates, postmortem examination reports, coroner officer's reports, and coroner's inquest reports were sought, and causes of death were ascertained. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) cases were identified. Key Findings: In 3,569 person-years of follow-up 19 deaths occurred, [SMR 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-3.13], 14 men (SMR 2.01, 95% CI 1.19-3.39) and 5 women (SMR 1.68, 95% CI 0.70-4.03). On analysis of subgroups, SMRs were significantly elevated in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) (SMR 2.50, 95% CI 1.38-4.51), men with MTS (SMR 3.12, 95% CI 1.56-6.25), men with nonspecific lesions (SMR 2.68, 95% CI 1.00-7.09), and right-sided resections in MTS (SMR 3.33, 95% CI 1.39-8.00). During follow-up, six SUDEP cases were observed with a rate of 1/595 person-years. Significance: In this cohort, the risk for premature death in patients undergoing TLE surgery decreased over time but remained above the standard population. Men had a slightly higher risk than women, as did right-sided resections in MTS, confirming this observation in the original cohort. Although lower, the risk of SUDEP remained. Without up-to-date information on seizure outcome, we were unable to directly relate this to mortality.