Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus

Authors

Mauricio R. Cuero, Henry Ford Health
Panayiotis N. Varelas, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Cuero MR, and Varelas PN. Super-refractory status epilepticus. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2015; 15(11):74.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Publication Title

Current neurology and neuroscience reports

Abstract

Although the vast majority of patients with status epilepticus (SE) respond fairly well to the first- or second-line anti-epileptics, a minority require anesthetic agents to put the seizures under control. An even smaller number of patients do not even respond to those and constitute the subgroup of super-refractory SE. Because of the small numbers, there are no definitive studies regarding its etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment, and those are still based on expert opinions. Encephalitides, either infectious, autoimmune, or paraneoplastic may be the main etiological factors. Induced pharmacological coma, immunosuppression, electrical brain stimulation, hypothermia, and ketamine are few of the newer but unproven therapeutic approaches that should be considered.

Medical Subject Headings

Animals; Anticonvulsants; Autoimmunity; Humans; Seizures; Status Epilepticus; Treatment Outcome

PubMed ID

26404727

Volume

15

Issue

11

First Page

74