Clinical review: status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) has an annual incidence exceeding 100,000 cases in the United States alone, of which more than 20% result in death. Thus, increased awareness of presentation, etiologies, and treatment of SE is essential in the practice of critical care medicine. This review discusses current definitions of SE, as well as its clinical presentation and classification. The recent literature on epidemiology is reviewed, including morbidity and mortality data. An overview of the systemic pathophysiologic effects of SE is presented. Finally, significant studies on the treatment of acute SE and refractory SE are reviewed, including the use of anticonvulsants, such as benzodiazepines, and other drugs.

Introduction

Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical and neurologic emergency. Given the significant risk of mortality, and the possibility of successful therapeutic intervention, it is essential for all physicians to be able to efficiently identify and treat patients in SE.

Definition

The definition of SE is based on the clinical manifestation, a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures during which the patient has incomplete recovery of consciousness, and duration. The duration parameter is controversial and has created a flux in our definition of SE. In their 1981 definition of SE, the International League Against Epilepsy describes the time elements as "sufficient length" and "frequently enough" [1]. For definition and management purposes, both of these quantifiers are ambiguous.

Elegant animal studies in the 1970s and 1980s revealed significant damage to the brain after 30 minutes of seizure activity, even with control of blood pressure, respiration, and body temperature [2,3,4]. These studies lent credence to the choice of 30 minutes as a specific time point to define SE. Although seizures can spontaneously remit after 10 to 29 minutes [5], in studies of the natural course of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, it has been well documented that, in humans, most seizures will terminate spontaneously within a few minutes [6]. For this reason, it has been proposed that an operational definition of SE should involve timing much shorter than 30 minutes [7].

The operational definition of SE proposed by Lowenstein, Bleck, and Macdonald is a continuous, generalized, convulsive seizure lasting greater than five minutes (in an adult or child older than five years), or two or more seizures during which the patient does not return to baseline consciousness [7]. Recent treatment studies including the Veterans Administration Cooperative Trial on Treatment of SE and the Pre-Hospital Treatment of SE study have used times of ten and five minutes respectively [8,9]. For treatment purposes, it is more practical to conceptualize SE using these narrower time windows. Shinnar et al. analyzed the duration of new-onset seizure activity in 407 children, and concluded that seizures lasting longer than five to ten minutes were unlikely to stop spontaneously, and should be treated [10].

Clinical manifestations and classification

The classification systems used for SE are discrepant throughout the literature. Many schemes have been generated that rely on both clinical and electrographic findings. It is important to note that virtually all seizure types may become prolonged, thereby fulfilling the definition of SE [11]. In an effort to provide a simple overview, a clinical approach will be favored here.

Prolonged convulsions with impaired consciousness constitutes generalized convulsive SE (GCSE). Although a patient with convulsions is easily recognized, some patients who have been in GCSE may progress to have minimal or no apparent motor activity but still show seizures on an electroencephalograph (EEG) [12]. The clinician must be aware of this situation, because aggressive treatment for this group is just as important as it is for the obviously convulsing patient [13].

The patient with nonconvulsive SE (NCSE) can exhibit a wide variety of clinical manifestation including coma, confusion, somnolence, altered affect, fugue states, aphasia, abnormal autonomic/vegetative symptoms, delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia [14]. The NCSE can be divided into either generalized (absence), focal (complex partial), or other. The 'epileptic twilight state', during which there is intact arousal with impairment of attention, can represent the clinical overlap between generalized and focal NCSE [12]; the distinction often rests in the electrographic findings. Nonconvulsive SE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of coma, as in a recent study at the Medical College of Virginia, in which 8% of the patients in coma were in NCSE [15].

Prolonged focal seizures, such as isolated hand jerking, associated with intact consciousness, comprises simple partial SE. Some authors conceptualize this entity as a separate category, while others include it as a subtype of NCSE [16].

Etiologies

The causes of SE are varied. Table 1 shows the etiologies of SE in an urban hospital-based population [16]. Although the data on causes of status, reported by DeLorenzo (Table 2), show some correspondence, there are discrepancies such as the higher proportion of cerebrovascular disease, anoxia, and hypoxia [17]. These data sets include only the adult population. In children, up to 51% are secondary to infectious etiologies [16].

Table 1

Data on the etiology of status epilepticus in an urban hospital-based practice

Etiology	Percent of cases
AED non-compliance	26
Alcohol related	24
Drug toxicity	10
CNS infection	8
Cerebral tumor	6
Trauma	5
Refractory epilepsy	5
Stroke	4
Metabolic abnormalities	4
Cardiac arrest	4
Idiopathic	5

AED, anti-epileptic drugs; CNS, central nervous system. Data adapted from Neurology [16].

Table 2

Data on the etiology of status epilepticus in a hospital and community

Etiology	Percent of Cases
Withdrawal of anticonvulsants	25
Cerebrovascular disease	23
Remote symptomatic	19
Alcohol withdrawal	15
Metabolic disorders	13
Hypoxia	12
Infectious disorders	8
Tumors	5
Anoxia	4
Trauma	3
Hemorrhage	2
Drug overdose	2
Idiopathic	4

Data adapted from Churchill Livingstone [17].

Epidemiology, morbidity, and mortality

There have been two recent, prospective, population-based epidemiologic studies of SE. The EPISTAR (a population-based survey of SE in the French speaking part of Switzerland) study from Switzerland showed an incidence of about 10 cases per 100,000 people annually [18]. The population in this study, however, was principally white, and cases of anoxic encephalopathies were excluded. In the prospective population-based study conducted at the Medical College of Virginia, the incidence of SE was found to be 41 cases per 100,000 people [17] (Fig. 1). This would translate to over 100,000 cases of SE within the United States annually [19].

Figure 1

A graphical representation of mortality and incidence for four population groups. These data are adapted from Neurology [19] and Epilepsia [21].

Reports on the mortality of SE range from a few percent to over 50% [20]. The Richmond group found a mortality rate of 22% (corresponding to 22,000–42,000 deaths per year in the US) with the primary predictors of poor outcome being anoxia, prolonged seizure (greater than one hour in duration), and advanced age (Fig. 1) [21]. Mortality in the Swiss group was lower (7.6%), which is most likely to be secondary to the exclusion of anoxic encephalopathies [18].

Pathophysiology of SE

As a result of sympathetic overdrive, the body responds to GCSE with both systemic and cerebral effects, whereas, to NCSE, systemic effects are more limited. Systemic effects of GCSE are summarized in Table 3. In the initial phase of GCSE, blood pressure, glucose, and lactate increase, and pH decreases. After this initial phase, at approximately 30 minutes, a second phase begins. During this second phase, blood pressure and glucose normalize (sometimes decreasing even further), lactate normalizes, and respiratory compromise and hyperthermia ensue [22].

Table 3

An overview of the systemic effects of status epilepticus

System	Effects
Lungs	Due to both metabolic and respiratory acidosis, the pH of arterial blood gases (ABG) is often found to be below normal in SE. Aminoff and Simon found that 59/80 (84%) of the patients with useable ABG information had pHs below 7.35 [43]. They suggest that the aberrations in pH may not be of clinical significance or of prognostic value.
	In animal studies, pulmonary vascular pressure has been found to be elevated in SE [44] and may contribute to pulmonary edema [45].
Heart	The sympathetic overdrive can cause tachycardia. In a study by Boggs, potentially fatal arrhythmias were reported in 58% of the patients [46].
	In a recent study, Boggs et al completed hemodynamic monitoring in SE patients 24 hours prior to their death, and found that there were two distinct groups with disparate cardiac manifestations [47]. In the group with a lower proportion of previously discovered atherosclerotic disease (ASHD), there was acute cardiac decline without a significant drop in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or heart rate (HR). The second group, 90% of whom had a history of multiple risk factors for ASHD, showed a gradual decrease in MAP and HR prior to death.
Muscle	As a result of continued seizure activity, conversion to anaerobic metabolism contributes to lactic acidosis [3].
Blood chemistries	De-margination of neutrophils occurs with the stress of seizing. In patients without underlying infection, elevated white blood cell counts (above the upper laboratory limit) were present in as many as 63% in one study [43].
Vital signs
Blood pressure	The initial phase of SE results in an increased systemic blood pressure with an increase in peripheral vascular resistance [43]. As the status becomes prolonged, the blood pressure will normalize or even begin to fall with resultant hypotension.
Temperature	As the seizure progresses, the body's core temperature elevates. Aminoff and Simon looked at the temperature of 90 patients in SE. Of these, only 8 had temperatures below 98°F, only 3 had fever secondary to known infection, and over 40 had temperatures above 100.5°F, (with two of the temperatures up to 107°F) [43].
Respiratory rate	The patient in SE often has a transient change in respiratory rate and tidal volume [22].

In both animal models and humans, GCSE has been shown to result in damage to the brain [3,22,23]. The reasons for this damage have not been completely elucidated; however, several contributing factors are believed to exist. Some of the systemic manifestations described in Table 3 can play a contributory role. Meldrum et al. showed that hyperthermia causes damage to the hippocampus and cortex [24]. Additionally, it has also been shown that reduction of temperature results in shorter duration of SE and less damage [25]. Initially during SE, there is increased cerebral blood flow to meet the elevated demands; however, as the cerebral blood flow falls, there is a mismatch between blood supply and the utilization of oxygen and glucose, resulting in a lower energy state and metabolic–substrate mismatch [22]. It is important to note that in experiments where systemic factors are controlled, there is still damage to the brain [2,24].

An area of expanding research is excitotoxic-induced cell injury, an important cause of damage to neurons [26]. The damage to neurons is based on a complex interplay of multiple factors. Significant to this process is the inhibition of γ-aminobutyric acid (a principle inhibitory neurotransmitter), and the excessive action of glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmit-ter). Additionally, apoptosis is likely to play a role in cell death during SE. Given the probability of cerebral injury, it is imperative for the clinician to recognize and treat SE expeditiously.

Treatment of acute status epilepticus

Basic life support

Airway, breathing, and circulation should be established immediately. Intravenous access, while sometimes difficult to achieve in an actively seizing patient, should be obtained. Glucose should be given empirically along with thiamine in alcoholic or otherwise malnourished patients. Laboratory studies should include basic chemistry, blood glucose, anticonvulsant levels, blood and urine toxicologic screen, complete blood count, and urine analysis for evidence of infection. The treatment of SE, however, should not be delayed while these tests are pending.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, usually either diazepam or lorazepam, remain the first-line control for acute SE (ASE). No significant difference has been found between the rate of seizure control when lorazepam has been compared with either diazepam alone [27] or diazepam plus phenytoin [8]. However, lorazepam is believed to bind more tightly to receptors in the brain and therefore has a longer duration of action and less risk of recurrent seizures [28]. All benzodiazepines carry the risk of respiratory depression and hypotension, and therefore the clinician should be prepared to intubate or give pressors if necessary. Diazepam is given at a dose of 10–20 mg; lorazepam is given in 2 mg increments at approximately three-minutes intervals. If seizures have not terminated after 8 mg of lorazepam, another agent should be started.

Midazolam is a newer benzodiazepine that is associated with a very favorable hemodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile [29]. Its major advantage over lorazepam in the acute setting is that its high water solubility and rapid onset of action when given intramuscularly make this an attractive choice when secure intravenous access is unobtainable [28]. Its use in refractory SE will be discussed below.

Fosphenytoin

Traditionally, phenytoin alone at 20 mg/kg intravenous infusion has been considered an appropriate first-line option in the treatment of ASE. We recommend it be only used as a second-line agent after a faster acting benzodiazepine has been tried. Infusion rates are limited to 50 mg/min secondary to the potential side effects of arrhythmia and hypotension.

Conversely, fosphenytoin (a water-soluble phosphate ester prodrug of phenytoin with a neutral pH) can be delivered at 150 phenytoin-equivalent mg/min with essentially no risk of reaction at the infusion site. Because it is water soluble, it does not need a propylene glycol vehicle. It is 100% bioavailable when given either intravenously or intramuscularly, and it is quickly converted by phosphatases to phenytoin once it is in the vascular compartment [30].

In one small study of GCSE, fosphenytoin was associated with a success rate of 93.8% in terminating seizures [31]. Studies have shown that therapeutic plasma concentrations of phenytoin can be achieved more rapidly with fosphenytoin that phenytoin when given at 15–20 mg/kg [31]. This is probably related to three factors: faster rate of infusion; displacement of protein-bound phenytoin; and rapid conversion of prodrug to phenytoin (half-life of 8.1 min) [32]. Although fos-phenytoin is a more expensive alternative [33], the cost of treating complications from the use of intravenous phenytoin can be substantially higher [34].

Barbiturates

The Veterans Administration Cooperative study showed no significant difference in efficacy between lorazepam (0.1 mg/kg) and phenobarbital (15 mg/kg) [8]. However, it also showed that if a patient did not respond to lorazepam or phenytoin, the response rate to phenobarbital was only 2.1% (unpublished data). We therefore recommend a more definitive treatment strategy for patients that have not responded to one, or at most two, first-line agents.

Treatment of refractory status epilepticus

Refractory SE is defined as ongoing seizures despite the use of two first-line agents, usually a benzodiazepine plus either phenytoin or phenobarbital. Definitive therapy often requires doses of medications that cause respiratory suppression and hypotension, so patients should be intubated and transferred to an intensive care unit if this has not already been done. Treiman et al. showed that respiratory suppression requiring mechanical ventilation occurred in 18.9%, and pressor support was needed in 32.6% of patients treated for SE [8]. Patients at this stage of SE require EEG monitoring, since the physical exam is clouded by the use of paralytics for intubation and the potential for electromechanical dissociation.

The traditional goal of therapy has a burst suppression pattern on EEG for 12–24 hours before attempting to taper medications. There are no convincing prospective data to suggest that a burst suppression pattern is required to control or to prevent recurrent seizures [35], thus we recommend seizure suppression as a goal, regardless of the EEG background.

Pentobarbital

Pentobarbital, with a loading dose of 5–12 mg/kg followed by an infusion of 1–10 mg/kg, is extremely effective in producing coma and achieving burst suppression on EEG. Maintenance therapy of a longer-acting anticonvulsant is continued during this time in anticipation of reversing coma as soon as clinically feasible. High doses of barbiturates can cause poor chemotaxis of white cells, paralysis of respiratory cilia, and poikilothermia. Therefore, the clinician must be vigilant in detecting infection and weaning the medication as soon as safely possible. Although the half-life of pentobarbital is 90 hours, awakening begins within a few hours after the plasma concentration begins to fall.

Midazolam

Numerous clinical studies have shown that midazolam bolus (0.1–0.3 mg/kg) followed by continuous infusion (0.05–2.0 mg/kg/hour) rapidly controls seizures that have not responded to traditional first, second, and even third-line agents [36,37]. Reports of clinically significant hypotension are rare, and sedation is rapidly reversed after infusion is stopped. Prolonged use of midazolam is limited by tachyphy-laxis requiring increasing doses to maintain the desired EEG tracing. Additionally, midazolam accumulates in critically ill patients; with prolonged usage, the half-life of the terminal phase can be three to eight times the reported half-life of two to six hours [38]. In a small retrospective study, Prasad et al. found that for patients with an APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score greater than or equal to 20, treating refractory SE with midazolam may have a lower mortality than that associated with propofol [39].

Propofol

Several studies and case reports document the efficacy of propofol in the treatment of refractory SE, GCSE, NCSE, and complex partial SE [40,41,42]. Propofol is fast-acting, highly lipid soluble, and has little propensity to accumulate. An initial dose of 3–5 mg/kg is followed by a maintenance dose of 1–15 mg/kg/hour, as required for seizure control. Abrupt discontinuation of infusion has been associated with recurrent seizures. Hypotension, hypertriglyceridemia, and worsening of anemia have also been reported with this agent. Two small studies have shown an interesting, but insignificant, increase in mortality among SE patients treated with propofol versus midazolam or high dose barbiturates. Future studies are needed to better elucidate this issue.

Conclusion

As the issue of SE is often faced by practitioners of critical care, it is imperative that SE be recognized and treated as a medical emergency. Given the complex pathophysiology, being able to abort SE will contribute to a decrease in the systemic effects and neurologic injury. First line treatment with benzodiazepines, followed by the other agents discussed above, provide the maximal potential for successful management of SE.

Competing interests

None declared.

Abbreviations

ASE = acute status epilepticus; EEG = electroencephalograph; GCSE = generalized convulsive status epilepticus; NCSE = nonconvulsive status epilepticus; SE = status epilepticus.