In patients with epilepsy, sudden cardiac death may occur following status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), in sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and in patients with epilepsy and co-existing cardiac disease. However, the relationship between epilepsy, clinical indicators of cardiac risk, and the beneficial effects of drugs that protect the heart are not known. In this three-year project, Dr. Bealer will evaluate these relationships to determine which patients should be routinely evaluated for cardiac risk, and whether appropriate cardiac drug therapy reduces the risk of death.