Status epilepticus in elderly patients: Treatment options

Status epilepticus (SE) is a relatively frequent neurologic emergency in elderly people, as up to 40% of all cases were identified in this patient population. Often, SE is the initial manifestation of an epileptic seizure disorder and can be a very serious complication, as it has been associated with a high mortality risk estimated to range between 30% to 60% among the different case series. The purpose of this article is to review the unique characteristics of SE in elderly patients, its pharmacologic management and the various considerations that need to be factored-in in its treatment, given the differences in pharmacokinetic properties of drugs in this age group and the impact of the frequent comorbid medical conditions that can negatively interfere with the pharmacologic therapy of SE.