Sudden Death in Epilepsy Forensic and Clinical Issues

Forensics of Sudden Death
Neurocardiologic Mechanistic Risk Factors in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: C.M. Lathers, P.L. Schraeder, and M.W. Bungo
Forensic Considerations and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: J.E. Leestma
Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: Guardian of the Brain–Heart Connection: F.A. Scorza, E.A. Cavalheiro, R.M. Arida, V.C. Terra, C.A. Scorza, E.Y.F. Sonoda and R.M. Cysneiros
Unanswered Questions: SUDEP Studies Needed: C.M. Lathers, P.L. Schraeder and M.W. Bungo
Medullary Serotonergic Abnormalities in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Implications in SUDEP: D.S. Paterson
Forensic Case Identification: P.L. Schraeder, E.L. So and C.M. Lathers
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: Future Research Directions: S. Parvulescu-Codrea
Forensic Postmortem Examination of Victims of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: C.M. Lathers, P.L. Schraeder, S.A. Koehler and C.H. Wecht
One-Year Postmortem Forensic Analysis of Deaths in Persons with Epilepsy: S.A. Koehler, P.L. Schraeder, C.M. Lathers and C.H. Wecht
Drug Abuse and SUDEP: S.B. Karch
Cocaine-Induced Seizures, Arrhythmias, and Sudden Death: C.M. Lathers, M.M. Spino, I. Agarwal, L.S.Y. Tyau and W.B. Pickworth
Risk Factors for Sudden Death in Epilepsy: T. Walczak
EEG Findings in SUDEP: M. Nei and N. Simpkins
Severity of Seizures as a Forensic Risk and Case Reports: E.H. Maa, M.P. Earnest, M.C. Spitz and J. Bainbridge
Intractable Epilepsy in the Setting of Malformations of Cortical Development as a Mechanism for SUDEP: L. Jehi and I. Najm
Neurogenic Cardiac Arrhythmias: H. Leung and A.Y.Y. Chan
Stress and SUDEP: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
Genetics of Sudden Death in Epilepsy: N. Ghali and L. Nashef
Cardiac Channelopathies and Sudden Death: B. Herreros
Sodium Channel Dysfunction Common Physiopathologic Mechanism Associated with Sudden Death ECG Abnormalities in Brugada Syndrome and Some Types of Epilepsy: Case Histories: C.M. Lathers, P.L. Schraeder and M.W. Bungo
Not Seizure but Syncope: S. Sharma, T. Ho and B.K. Kantharia
Syncope, Seizures, and SUDEP: Case Histories: C.M. Lathers, P.L. Schraeder and M.W. Bungo
Sudden Death in Epilepsy: Relationship to the Sleep–Wake Circadian Cycle and Fractal Physiology: J.D. Hughes and S. Sato
SUDEP: Medicolegal and Clinical Experiences: B.B. Wannamaker

SUDEP Animal Models
MECHANISMS OF RISKS
Sudden Death: Animal Models to Study Nervous System Sites of Action for Disease and Pharmacological Intervention: C.M. Lathers
Synaptic Plasticity of Autonomic Ganglia: Role of Chronic Stress and Implication in Cardiovascular Diseases and Sudden Death: K.A. Alkadhi and K.H. Alzoubi
Animal Model for Sudden Cardiac Death: Autonomic Cardiac Sympathetic Nonuniform Neural Discharge: C.M. Lathers
Animal Model for Sudden Unexpected Death in Persons with Epilepsy: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
A Characterization of the Lockstep Phenomenon in Phenobarbital-Pretreated Cats: J.M. Dodd-O and C.M. Lathers
Relationship of the Lockstep Phenomenon and Precipitous Changes in Blood Pressure: A.Z. Stauffer, J.M. D.O and C.M. Lathers
Interspike Interval Histogram Characterization of Synchronized Cardiac Sympathetic Neural Discharge and Epileptogenic Activity in the Electrocorticogram of the Cat: D.K. O’Rourke and C.M. Lathers
Power Spectral Analysis: A Procedure for Assessing Autonomic Activity Related to Risk Factors for Sudden and Unexplained Death in Epilepsy: S.R. Quint, J.A. Messenheimer and M.B. Tennison
Animal Model for Sudden Cardiac Death: Sympathetic Innervation and Myocardial Beta-Receptor Densities: C.M. Lathers and R.M. Levin
Antiepileptic Activity of Beta-Blocking Agents: C.M. Lathers, K.F. Jim, W.H. Spivey, C. Kahn, K. Dolce and W.D. Matthews
Arrhythmias Associated with Epileptogenic Activity Elicited by Penicillin: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
Role of Neuropeptides in the Production of Epileptogenic Activity and Arrhythmias: C.M. Lathers
Sudden Epileptic Death in Experimental Animal Models: O. Mameli and M.A. Caria
Sympathetic Nervous System Dysregulation of Cardiac Function and Myocyte Potassium Channel Remodeling in Rodent Seizure Models: Candidate Mechanisms for SUDEP: S.L. Bealer, C.S. Metcalf, J.G. Little, M. Vatta, A. Brewster and A. Anderson
The Urethane/Kainate Seizure Model as a Tool to Explore Physiology and Death Associated with Seizures: M. Stewart
Acute Cardiovascular Response during Kindled Seizures: J.H. Goodman, R.W. Homan and I.L. Crawford
DBA Mice as Models of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: C.L. Faingold, S. Tupal, Y. Mhaskar and V.V. Uteshev

Clinical Issues of Sudden Death
Cardiac and Pulmonary Risk Factors and Pathomechanisms of Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy Patients: J. Finsterer and C. Stöllberger
Neurocardiac Interactions in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: Can Ambulatory Electrocardiogram-Based Assessment of Autonomic Function and T-Wave Alternans Help to Evaluate Risk?: R.L. Verrier and S.C. Schachter
Arrhythmogenic, Respiratory, and Psychological Risk Factors for Sudden Unexpected Death and Epilepsy: Case Histories: C.M. Lathers
Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome: Underlying Cardiac Etiologies, Their Implications, and the Overlap with SUDEP: P.S. Dhillon and E.R. Behr
Odds Ratios Study of Antiepileptic Drugs: A Possible Approach to SUD EP Prevention?: C.M. Lathers, P.L. Schraeder and H.G. Claycamp
Antiepileptic Drugs Benefit/Risk Clinical Pharmacology: Possible Role in Cause and/or Prevention of SUDEP: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
Clinical Pharmacology and SUDEP: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
Experience-Based Teaching of Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology of Antiepileptic Drugs: Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy: Do Antiepileptic Drugs Have a Role?: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
Clinical Pharmacology of Antiepileptic Drug Use: Clinical Pearls about the Perils of Patty: P.L. Schraeder and C.M. Lathers
Compliance with Antiepileptic Drug Treatment and the Risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: T. Tomson
SUDEP Clinical Case Histories: Typical and Atypical: P.L. Schraeder
Cardiac Antiarrhythmic Agents: Pharmacological Basis for their Antiarrhythmic and Proarrhythmic Effects: S. Sharma, T. Ho and B.K. Kantharia
Could Beta–Blocker Antiarrhythmic and Antiseizure Activity Help Prevent SUD EP?: C.M. Lathers
Decision Analysis and Risk Management: H.G. Claycamp
Epilepsy Surgery and the Prevention of SUDEP: R.S. Hays and M.R. Sperling
Challenges in Overcoming Ethical, Legal, and Communication Barriers in SUDEP: J. Hanna and R. Panelli
Bereavement and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: L. Nashef and L. Sahlholdt
SUDEP: A Clinical and Communicative Conundrum: P.L. Schraeder and C.M. Lathers
Epilepsy and SUD EP: Lessons Learned: Scientific and Clinical Experience: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
SUDEP: A Mystery Yet to Be Solved: C.M. Lathers and P.L. Schraeder
Forensic Evidence and Expert Witnesses: Scientific Evidence: Getting It In and Keeping It Out: T.L. Bohan
Index

Biography

Claire M. Lathers, Paul L. Schraeder, Michael Bungo, Jan E. Leestma

Lathers and colleagues have produced a colossal and astonishingly comprehensive tome on a little-appreciated subject: sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP). All physicians who have treated patients with severe epilepsy have experienced the anguish of losing a young patient to this ill-defined syndrome. This book addresses all the issues--from the clinical to the basic, from the forensic to the bereavement. Every physician who treats epilepsy will do well to draw from the extraordinary compilation of data and expertise in this volume.
—Roger J. Porter, MD, ScD, Adjunct Professor of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology, USUHS, Bethesda

The book is a skilled amalgam of neuroscience, cardiology, and pharmacology, along with numerous illustrative case examples, and it will become much thumbed-through as it takes a place of prominence on this forensic pathologist’s bookshelf.
—Gregory J. Davis, MD, FCAP, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, State Medical Examiner, Kentucky, in Et Cetera.