A Tiered Strategy for Investigating Status Epilepticus

In status epilepticus the imperative to start anti-seizure therapy, initially subjugates the need to investigate the cause. Once treatment is initiated this balance shifts in favour of identifying: the causes and consequences of the seizure; the factors that predetermined the occurrence of status epilepticus; and finally the prognosis of this acute episode. Just as there are multiple causes of seizures and epilepsy, there are a vast number of causes of status epilepticus. We discuss the more common and the more important to identify as they may dictate a change in therapy or a certain prognosis.

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