Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York.
Parial and generalized seizures often affect autonomic function during seizures as well as during the interictal and postictal periods. Activation or inhibition of areas in the central autonomic network can cause cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, pupillary, urinary, and genital manifestations. Autonomic dysfunction during or after seizures may cause cardiac and pulmonary changes that contribute to sudden unexplained death in epilepsy.