Objective: Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is the most common and life-threatening form of status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of CSE in western China.

Methods: Convulsive status epilepticus patients hospitalized from January 1996 to October 2007 were prospectively observed. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of prognosis.

Results: The average age of CSE patients (n = 220) was 37.5 years (SD 20.31), 50% of the patients had a history of epilepsy. The primary cause of CSE was central nervous system infection (32.7%), followed by discontinuation or reduction of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; 15.5%). The median duration of CSE was 5 h and median duration of seizures before treatment was 2 h; both were longer in rural patients than in urban patients (P < 0.05). The fatality rate on discharge was 15.9%. Logistic regression analysis showed the duration of CSE [odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.07], a history of epilepsy (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.89), and respiratory depression (OR 5.96, 95% CI 2.49-14.24) were independent predictors of CSE prognosis.

Conclusions: Central nervous system infection and AEDs withdrawal in epilepsy patients were the most important causes of CSE. There is a large gap between antiepileptic therapy in China and European Status Epilepticus guidelines.