SUDDEN DEATH IN EPILEPSY: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

According to Lhatoo and Sander (2002), the mortality rate among epileptics is 2 to 5 times higher compared to the general population, 40% of being related to epilepsy [5]. Sheline et al. have tried to explain for the first time the link between epilepsy and depression, the common denominator being changes in the vegetative system. [...]in patients with depression, a decrease in hippocampal size relatively to the control group was identified. [...]central apnea will lead to exitus, both directly and indirectly, with acidosis, followed by hyperpotassemia, with fatal malignant arrhythmias (torsade de pointes). On cross-sections, especially in the lower left ventricular wall, subendocardia, white-pearly streaks with reduced elasticity are lost among the myocardial fibers; Macroscopic diagnoses: infiltrated epicranian hemorrhage; cortical atrophy; pulmonary edema; miocardo-sclerossis; A toxicological and histopathological examination was performed, evidencing the presence of barbiturates - phenobarbital 135.4 pg/ml (therapeutic dose), beclamide - anticonvulsant (barrel, bile, liver, stomach and gastric contents, kidneys) indicating a toxic dose; no pesticides, carbamate, organophosphorus, organochlorine, toxic, benzodiazepine, TCA, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, drugs have been identified.