PLoS ONE (Jan 2024)

Wavelet phase coherence of ictal scalp EEG-extracted muscle activity (SMA) as a biomarker for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

  • Adam C Gravitis,
  • Krishram Sivendiran,
  • Uilki Tufa,
  • Katherine Zukotynski,
  • Yotin Chinvarun,
  • Orrin Devinsky,
  • Richard Wennberg,
  • Peter L Carlen,
  • Berj L Bardakjian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298943
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 8
p. e0298943

Abstract

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ObjectiveApproximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy and 8-17% of the deaths in patients with epilepsy are attributed to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The goal of the present work was to establish a biomarker for SUDEP so that preventive treatment can be instituted.ApproachSeizure activity in patients with SUDEP and non-SUDEP was analyzed, specifically, the scalp EEG extracted muscle activity (SMA) and the average wavelet phase coherence (WPC) during seizures was computed for two frequency ranges (1-12 Hz, 13-30 Hz) to identify differences between the two groups.Main resultsIctal SMA in SUDEP patients showed a statistically higher average WPC value when compared to non-SUDEP patients for both frequency ranges. Area under curve for a cross-validated logistic classifier was 81%.SignificanceAverage WPC of ictal SMA is a candidate biomarker for early detection of SUDEP.