Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40694793›Full record

ArticleNeurology2025

Persistent Postictal Central Apnea in Focal Seizures: Incidence, Features, and Imaging Findings.

Stefano Meletti, Margherita Burani, Alice Ballerini, Giada Giovannini, Elisa Micalizzi, Niccolò Orlandi, Lisa Taruffi, Niccolò Biagioli, Simona Scolastico, Laura Madrassi and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Ictal and postictal central apnea: Integrating pathophysiological mechanisms with SUDEP risk stratification.Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape · 2026
    Article
  2. Prolonged ictal and post-ictal central apnea in an epileptic seizure.Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Stefano MelettiDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0334-539X
Margherita BuraniDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-0981-4788
Alice BalleriniDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0544-1599
Giada GiovanniniNeurophysiology Unit and Epilepsy Centre, Neuroscience Department, University of Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3585-5872
Elisa MicalizziNeurophysiology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy; and.ORCID 0000-0003-3991-3918
Niccolò OrlandiDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5717-7363
Lisa TaruffiDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-6770-777X
Niccolò BiagioliDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5189-2465
Simona ScolasticoDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3202-3429
Laura MadrassiDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-8090-7393
Matteo PugnaghiNeurophysiology Unit and Epilepsy Centre, Neuroscience Department, University of Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3090-6247
Anna Elisabetta VaudanoDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6280-7526

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesPostconvulsive central apnea has emerged as a contributor to sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of postictal central apnea (PICA) in focal seizures. The secondary aim was to analyze morphometric features of the amygdala and other subcortical structures involved in autonomic control.

methodsWe prospectively enrolled consecutive patients admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Modena Academic Hospital (Italy) from April 2020 to December 2023. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age older than 13 years; (2) at least 1 focal-onset seizure recorded during long-term video-EEG monitoring (LTVEM) with cardiorespiratory polygraphy. For each seizure, the presence of ictal central apnea (ICA) and/or PICA and its features were evaluated. Amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum volumetry were compared in patients with ICA/PICA with respect to healthy controls and patients with focal seizures without peri-ictal breathing disorders.

resultsA total of 69 patients (mean age 35.7 years; 42% female) with 406 focal-onset seizures were analyzed. ICA was recorded in 71 seizures (17%) in 27 patients. PICA was recorded in 24 seizures in 12 patients (10 with temporal lobe epilepsy) corresponding to 5.9% of all recorded seizures. Notably, PICA was observed only in seizures showing ictal apnea (in 33.8%). In 11 seizures with PICA, a single apneic event starting in the ictal and extending to the postictal period was observed. In 13 seizures, multiple apneic events were present in the postictal period (range 2-8). Seizures with PICA showed a longer peri-ictal apnea time (mean 75 seconds vs 40 seconds; DISCUSSION: PICA occurs in approximately 6% of focal seizures and is associated with extended apnea time and an enlarged amygdala ipsilaterally to the epileptogenic zone. Our data support the existence of a continuum from ictal to PICA and highlight the importance of cardiorespiratory recordings in LTVEM.

Indexed as

Epilepsies, PartialSeizuresSleep Apnea, CentralAdultAmygdalaBrainElectroencephalographyFemaleHumansIncidenceMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40694793
PMCPMC12288844

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.