ABSTRACT
We developed a forensic sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) syndrome cluster risk identification method to unravel the SUDEP mystery. The collaborative goal for basic scientists to unravel the mystery of SUDEP should be to develop and conduct animal studies designed to identify mechanisms of SUDEP, autonomic status, and associated risk factors using different animal models; examine the roles of different neurotransmitters; and study possible protective/preventive pharmacological agents such as β-adrenergic blocking agents, serotonin-related drugs, and others. The same pharmacological agents should be examined in two or three different animal models and in different species to gain a broader perspective. Identified risk factors found in our new innovative SUDEP Mechanistic and Risk Factor Classification and ID method by Lathers, Leestma, Schachter, Koehler, Claycamp, Wannamaker, and Schraeder (Chapters 4 and 5) will be used in our new risk factor model to direct the data gathering in animal studies. Additionally, data mining of studies conducted in scientists’ laboratories will further build our animal database with cluster IDs. The study of multiple animal models will help to define different SUDEP risk mechanisms and potential combinations thereof across a spectrum of patients with epilepsy.
