Serotoninergic Pathways in Sudden and Unexpted Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Civil Hospices of Lyon

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Treatments: Other: Brain samples; Other: Skin samples

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02788318

D50830

Details and patient eligibility

About

The mortality rate is increased in patients with epilepsy, and especially among patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. This increased mortality is mainly related to the risk of SUDEP whose incidence is between 3.5 and 9 per 1,000 for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The term SUDEP refers to a sudden death occurring in a patient with epilepsy in whom anamnestic and post-mortem evidence does not identify a particular cause. Experimental and clinical data strongly suggest that most of SUDEP result from a postictal respiratory dysfunction progressing to terminal apnea. Due to the major role of serotonin in regulating breathing rhythms and data in animal models of epilepsy, it is envisaged that an alteration of serotonergic systems of the brainstem and limbic regions may play a central role in the occurrence of SUDEP. The objective of this work is to look for abnormalities of the serotonergic transmission within regulatory regions of respiratory and autonomic functions in brain samples prospectively collected in patients died from SUDEP.

Enrollment: 2 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age >18 years
• Postmortem time before autopsy <30 hours

Exclusion criteria

• Age <18 years
• postmortem time before autopsy > 30 hours
• Any subject whose brain would be of forensic interest
• Any patient who expressed an opposition to organ donation.

Trial design

2 participants in 3 patient groups

diagnostic of SUDEP

Description:

patient with epilepsy in whom anamnestic and post-mortem evidence does not identify a particular cause (diagnosis of SUDEP). Brain samples and skin samples are collected.

Treatment:

Other: Skin samples

Other: Brain samples

Control 1

Description:

Subjects with a known epilepsy, whose death is linked to a specific cause. Brain samples and skin samples are collected.

Treatment:

Other: Skin samples

Other: Brain samples

Control 2

Description:

Subjects without known pathological history, remained victims of unexplained sudden unexpected death (SUDEP) after all investigations and for which a heart rhythm disorder is suspected in first intention. Brain samples and skin samples are collected.

Treatment:

Other: Skin samples

Other: Brain samples