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van den Bongard F, Gowik JK, Coenen J, Jakobsmeyer R, Reinsberger C. Exercise-induced central and peripheral sympathetic activity in a community-based group of epilepsy patients differ from healthy controls. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:1301-1310. [PMID: 38551692 PMCID: PMC11108887 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06792-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Ictal and interictal activity within the autonomic nervous system is characterized by a sympathetic overshoot in people with epilepsy. This autonomic dysfunction is assumed to be driven by alterations in the central autonomic network. In this study, exercise-induced changes of the interrelation of central and peripheral autonomic activity in patients with epilepsy was assessed. 21 patients with epilepsy (16 seizure-free), and 21 healthy matched controls performed an exhaustive bicycle ergometer test. Immediately before and after the exercise test, resting state electroencephalography measurements (Brain Products GmbH, 128-channel actiCHamp) of 5 min were carried out to investigate functional connectivity assessed by phase locking value in source space for whole brain, central autonomic network and visual network. Additionally, 1-lead ECG (Brain products GmbH) was performed to analyze parasympathetic (root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) of the heart rate variability) and sympathetic activity (electrodermal activity (meanEDA)). MeanEDA increased (p < 0.001) and RMSSD decreased (p < 0.001) from pre to post-exercise in both groups. Correlation coefficients of meanEDA and central autonomic network functional connectivity differed significantly between the groups (p = 0.004) after exercise. Both patients with epilepsy and normal control subjects revealed the expected physiological peripheral autonomic responses to acute exhaustive exercise, but alterations of the correlation between central autonomic and peripheral sympathetic activity may indicate a different sympathetic reactivity after exercise in patients with epilepsy. The clinical relevance of this finding and its modulators (seizures, anti-seizure medication, etc.) still needs to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Kristin Gowik
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Jessica Coenen
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Rasmus Jakobsmeyer
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Claus Reinsberger
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098, Paderborn, Germany.
- Division of Sports Neurology & Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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van den Bongard F, Coenen J, Reinsberger C. Fitness, performance, and cardiac autonomic responses to exercise in people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 135:108869. [PMID: 36037579 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
People with epilepsy (PWE) are less fit and have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Imbalances within the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are believed to mediate some of those effects. However, results are mostly derived from patients whose seizures are refractory to medical therapy. In this study, an exhaustive bicycle ergometer test was delivered to 25 PWE (19 seizure free in the last 6 months) recruited in a community-based setting and 25 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy controls. During the exercise test a 12-channel ECG was recorded and spirometry was carried out to determine the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) as the gold standard to assess fitness. Before and after exercise, heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) were measured along with an electroencephalogram (EEG). Blood samples were collected to determine anti-seizure drug (ASD) serum levels and physical activity of daily living was evaluated via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). People with epilepsy and healthy controls were similarly fit and physically active. However, PWE had a lower maximum heart rate, a lower heart rate reserve, and a lower chronotropic index. The ratio between low- to high-frequency HRV changes (LF/HF ratio) was lower in PWE. Two patients with idiopathic genetic epilepsies revealed generalized interictal epileptiform discharges only after, but not before exercise. However, post-exercise EEG measurement was three times longer than pre-exercise and those patients did not report exercise induced seizures in the history. Besides epileptogenesis, anti-seizure medications may also contribute to those autonomic differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Coenen
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, Germany
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3
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Hamdy RM, Abdel-Tawab H, Abd Elaziz OH, Sobhy El attar R, Kotb FM. Evaluation of Heart Rate Variability Parameters During Awake and Sleep in Refractory and Controlled Epileptic Patients. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:3865-3877. [PMID: 35422653 PMCID: PMC9004725 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s354895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rehab M Hamdy
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
- Correspondence: Rehab M Hamdy, Department of Cardiology, Faculty for Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, Tel +201003022726, Email
| | - Hayam Abdel-Tawab
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ola H Abd Elaziz
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rasha Sobhy El attar
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fatma M Kotb
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
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Zhuravlev D, Lebedeva A, Lebedeva M, Guekht A. Current concepts about autonomic dysfunction in patients with epilepsy. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:131-138. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2022122031131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Tran TPY, Pouliot P, Assi EB, Rainville P, Myers KA, Robert M, Bouthillier A, Keezer MR, Nguyen DK. Heart Rate Variability in Insulo-Opercular Epilepsy. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11111505. [PMID: 34827504 PMCID: PMC8615554 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We aimed to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) changes in insulo-opercular epilepsy (IOE) and after insulo-opercular surgery. Methods: We analyzed 5-min resting HRV of IOE patients before and after surgery. Patients’ SUDEP-7 risk inventory scores were also calculated. Results were compared with age- and sex-matched patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and healthy individuals. Results: There were no differences in HRV measurements between IOE, TLE, and healthy control groups (and within each IOE group and TLE group) in preoperative and postoperative periods. In IOE patients, the SUDEP-7 score was positively correlated with pNN50 (percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 ms) (p = 0.008) and RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR interval differences) (p = 0.019). We stratified IOE patients into those whose preoperative RMSSD values were below (Group 1a = 7) versus above (Group 1b = 9) a cut-off threshold of 31 ms (median value of a healthy population from a previous study). In group 1a, all HRV values significantly increased after surgery. In group 1b, time-domain parameters significantly decreased postoperatively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in IOE, HRV may be either decreased in parasympathetic tone or increased globally in both sympathetic and parasympathetic tones. We found no evidence that insulo-opercular surgeries lead to major autonomic dysfunction when a good seizure outcome is reached. The increase in parasympathetic tone observed preoperatively may be of clinical concern, as it was positively correlated with the SUDEP-7 score.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Phuoc Yen Tran
- CHUM Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (T.P.Y.T.); (E.B.A.); (M.R.); (M.R.K.)
| | - Philippe Pouliot
- Safe Engineering Services and Technologies, Laval, QC H7L 6E8, Canada;
- Labeo Technologies, Montreal, QC H3V 1A2, Canada
| | - Elie Bou Assi
- CHUM Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (T.P.Y.T.); (E.B.A.); (M.R.); (M.R.K.)
| | - Pierre Rainville
- Department of Somatology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J7, Canada;
- Research Centre of Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Kenneth A. Myers
- Research Institute of the McGill University Medical Centre, Montreal, QC H3H 2R9, Canada;
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Manon Robert
- CHUM Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (T.P.Y.T.); (E.B.A.); (M.R.); (M.R.K.)
| | - Alain Bouthillier
- Division of Neurosurgery, CHUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada;
| | - Mark R. Keezer
- CHUM Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (T.P.Y.T.); (E.B.A.); (M.R.); (M.R.K.)
- Division of Neurology, CHUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada
| | - Dang Khoa Nguyen
- CHUM Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (T.P.Y.T.); (E.B.A.); (M.R.); (M.R.K.)
- Division of Neurology, CHUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Escutia-Reyes D, de Jesús Garduño-García J, Emilio-López-Chávez G, Gómez-Villanueva Á, Pliego-Carrillo AC, Soto-Piña AE, Reyes-Lagos JJ. Differences in heart rate variability and body composition in breast cancer survivors and women without cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14460. [PMID: 34262078 PMCID: PMC8280116 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93713-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore cardiac autonomic changes assessed by linear and nonlinear indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) and body composition modifications in breast cancer survivors and cancer-free control women. Women who were breast cancer survivors (BCS, n = 27) and without cancer with similar characteristics (Control, n = 31) were recruited for this study. We calculated some relevant linear and nonlinear parameters of 5 min of RR interval time series such as mean RR interval (RRave), the corrected Poincaré index (cSD1/SD2), the sample entropy (SampEn), the long-term fractal scaling exponent (α2) and 2UV from symbolic dynamics. Additionally, we indirectly assessed body composition measures such as body weight, fat mass, visceral fat rating (VFR), normalized VRF (nVFR), muscle mass, metabolic age, and total body water. We found that diverse HRV indexes and only one body composition measure showed statistical differences (p < 0.05) between the BCS and Control groups. RRave: 729 (648-802) vs. 795 (713-852) ms; cSD2/SD1: 3.4 (2.7-5.0) vs. 2.9 (2.3-3.5); SampEn: 1.5 (1.3-1.8) vs. 1.7 (1.5-1.8); α2: 0.6 (0.3-0.6) vs. 0.5 (0.4-0.5); 2UV: 7.1 (4.3-11.5) vs. 10.8 (6.4-15.7) and nVFR 0.12 (0.11-0.13) vs. 0.10 (0.08-0.12) points/kg, respectively. The nVFR was strongly significantly correlated with several indexes of HRV only in the BCS group.Our findings suggest that BCS exhibit lower parasympathetic cardiac activity and changes in HRV patterns compared to Controls. A concomitant increase of visceral fat, among other factors, may contribute to cardiac autonomic disturbances and changes in HRV patterns in BCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Escutia-Reyes
- School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMéx), State of Mexico, 50180, Toluca, Mexico
| | - José de Jesús Garduño-García
- School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMéx), State of Mexico, 50180, Toluca, Mexico
- Regional General Hospital No. 251, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), State of Mexico, 52148, Metepec, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Emilio-López-Chávez
- Regional General Hospital No. 251, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), State of Mexico, 52148, Metepec, Mexico
| | - Ángel Gómez-Villanueva
- Regional General Hospital No. 251, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), State of Mexico, 52148, Metepec, Mexico
| | | | - Alexandra Estela Soto-Piña
- School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMéx), State of Mexico, 50180, Toluca, Mexico
| | - José Javier Reyes-Lagos
- School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMéx), State of Mexico, 50180, Toluca, Mexico.
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Electrocardiographic Abnormalities and Mortality in Epilepsy Patients. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57050504. [PMID: 34065703 PMCID: PMC8156797 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57050504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: People with epilepsy (PWE) have a 2–3 times higher mortality rate than the general population. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) comprises a significant proportion of premature deaths, whereas sudden cardiac death (SCD) is among the leading causes of sudden death in the general population. Cardiac pathologies are significantly more prevalent in PWE. Whether electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters are associated with remote death in PWE has yet to be elucidated. The study objective was to assess whether interictal ECG parameters are associated with mortality in the long-term. Materials and Methods: The study involved 471 epilepsy patients who were hospitalized after a bilateral tonic-clonic seizure(s). ECG parameters were obtained on the day of hospitalization (heart rate, PQ interval, QRS complex, QT interval, heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc), ST segment and T wave changes), as well as reported ECG abnormalities. Mortality data were obtained from the Latvian National Cause-of-Death database 3–11, mean 7.0 years after hospitalization. The association between the ECG parameters and the long-term clinical outcome were examined. Results: At the time of assessment, 75.4% of patients were alive and 24.6% were deceased. Short QTc interval (odds ratio (OR) 4.780; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.668–13.698; p = 0.004) was associated with a remote death. After the exclusion of known comorbidities with high mortality rates, short QTc (OR 4.631) and ECG signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (OR 5.009) were associated with a remote death. Conclusions: The association between routine 12-lead rest ECG parameters—short QTc interval and a pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy—and remote death in epilepsy patients was found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to associate rest ECG parameters with remote death in an epileptic population.
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Epilepsy and ultra-structural heart changes: The role of catecholaminergic toxicity and myocardial fibrosis. What can we learn from cardiology? Seizure 2019; 71:105-109. [PMID: 31306872 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In this article, we explore the interaction of brain and heart in patients with epilepsy (PWE), focusing on new insights into possible pathways from epilepsy, catecholaminergic toxicity, subtle cardiac changes and sudden death. Initial evidence and biological plausibility point to an interaction between autonomic dysfunction, higher sympathetic drive, myocardial catecholaminergic toxicity and cardiac fibrosis resulting in subtle myocardial changes in structure, function, arrhythmogenesis and/or a heart failure-like phenotype in PWE. Non invasive imaging and biomarkers of cardiac injury and fibrosis are emerging as possible diagnostic tools to better stratify the risk of such individuals. Translational lessons from cardiac models of disease and ultra-structural lesions are used to support these considerations.
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Nass RD, Hampel KG, Elger CE, Surges R. Blood Pressure in Seizures and Epilepsy. Front Neurol 2019; 10:501. [PMID: 31139142 PMCID: PMC6527757 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In this narrative review, we summarize the current knowledge of neurally mediated blood pressure (BP) control and discuss how recently described epilepsy- and seizure-related BP alterations may contribute to premature mortality and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Although people with epilepsy display disturbed interictal autonomic function with a shift toward predominant sympathetic activity, prevalence of arterial hypertension is similar in people with and without epilepsy. BP is transiently increased in association with most types of epileptic seizures but may also decrease in some, illustrating that seizure activity can cause both a decrease and increase of BP, probably because of stimulation or inhibition of distinct central autonomic function by epileptic activity that propagates into different neuronal networks of the central autonomic nervous system. The principal regulatory neural loop for short-term BP control is termed baroreflex, mainly involving peripheral sensors and brain stem nuclei. The baroreflex sensitivity (BRS, expressed as change of interbeat interval per change in BP) is intact after focal seizures, whereas BRS is markedly impaired in the early postictal period following generalized convulsive seizures (GCS), possibly due to metabolically mediated muscular hyperemia in skeletal muscles, a massive release of catecholamines and compromised brain stem function. Whilst most SUDEP cases are probably caused by a cardiorespiratory failure during the early postictal period following GCS, a profoundly disturbed BRS may allow a life-threatening drop of systemic BP in the aftermath of GCS, as recently reported in a patient as a plausible cause of SUDEP in a few patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Nass
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kevin G Hampel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Rainer Surges
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Myers KA, Sivathamboo S, Perucca P. Heart rate variability measurement in epilepsy: How can we move from research to clinical practice? Epilepsia 2018; 59:2169-2178. [PMID: 30345509 DOI: 10.1111/epi.14587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to critically evaluate the literature surrounding heart rate variability (HRV) in people with epilepsy and to make recommendations as to how future research could be directed to facilitate and accelerate integration into clinical practice. We reviewed relevant HRV publications including those involving human subjects with seizures. HRV has been studied in patients with epilepsy for more than 30 years and, overall, patients with epilepsy display altered interictal HRV, suggesting a shift in autonomic balance toward sympathetic dominance. This derangement appears more severe in those with temporal lobe epilepsy and drug-resistant epilepsy. Normal diurnal variation in HRV is also disturbed in at least some people with epilepsy, but this aspect has received less study. Some therapeutic interventions, including vagus nerve stimulation and antiepileptic medications, may partially normalize altered HRV, but studies in this area are sometimes contradictory. During seizures, the changes in HRV may be complex, but the general trend is toward a further increase in sympathetic overactivity. Research in HRV in people with epilepsy has been limited by inconsistent experimental protocols and studies that are often underpowered. HRV measurement has the potential to aid clinical epilepsy management in several possible ways. HRV may be useful in predicting which patients are likely to benefit from surgical interventions such as vagus nerve stimulation and focal cerebral resection. As well, HRV could eventually have utility as a biomarker of risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). However, at present, the inconsistent measurement protocols used in research are hindering translation into clinical practice. A minimum protocol for HRV evaluation, to be used in all studies involving epilepsy patients, is necessary to eventually allow HRV to become a useful tool for clinicians. We propose a straightforward protocol, involving 5-minute measurements of root mean square of successive differences in wakefulness and light sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Myers
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Shobi Sivathamboo
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Piero Perucca
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Asadollahi M, Shahidi M, Ramezani M, Sheibani M. Interictal electrocardiographic alternations in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Seizure 2018; 69:7-10. [PMID: 30952092 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous studies suggested the possible role of autonomic dysfunction in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The aim of this study is to assess the interictal ECG alternations especially heart rate variability (HRV), as a marker of autonomic dysfunction, in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and determine the effect of epilepsy type and duration, seizure frequency and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) on ECG findings. METHODS In this comparative cross-sectional study, the interictal ECG parameters of 64 consecutive patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and the same number of age and sex-matched controls were analyzed. Epilepsy type and duration, seizure frequency, MRI findings and patients' anti-convulsive medications were determined. RESULTS Our study showed significant longer mean PR interval, shorter mean QRS duration, shorter mean QTc interval and longer corrected QT interval dispersion (QTcd) in patients with epilepsy compared to healthy subjects. The analysis of RR intervals revealed reduced RR standard deviation (SDNN), which is a marker of reduced HRV. A positive linear correlation was found between QRS duration and epilepsy duration. No significant correlation was found between taking a certain kind of AED, and ECG alternations, except for mild QTcd prolongation in patients taking valproate. CONCLUSION Our study showed clinically important alternations in interictal ECG parameters in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy which could result in sudden cardiac death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Asadollahi
- Epilepsy Department, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Malihe Shahidi
- Neurology Department, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahtab Ramezani
- Neurology Department, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Sheibani
- Cardiopulmonary Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Fialho GL, Wolf P, Walz R, Lin K. Increased cardiac stiffness is associated with autonomic dysfunction in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2018; 59:e85-e90. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.14084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme L. Fialho
- Cardiology Division; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Medical Sciences Postgraduate Program; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
| | - Peter Wolf
- Medical Sciences Postgraduate Program; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Neurology Division; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Danish Epilepsy Center; Dianalund Denmark
| | - Roger Walz
- Medical Sciences Postgraduate Program; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Neurology Division; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Center for Applied Neurosciences (CeNAp); Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
| | - Katia Lin
- Medical Sciences Postgraduate Program; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Neurology Division; Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
- Center for Applied Neurosciences (CeNAp); Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC); Florianópolis SC Brazil
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Goit RK, Jha SK, Pant BN. Alteration of cardiac autonomic function in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Physiol Rep 2016; 4:4/11/e12826. [PMID: 27273881 PMCID: PMC4908501 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine if heart rate variability (HRV) showed any changes in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy in comparison with controls. Sixty‐five patients with epilepsy (38 males and 27 females), aged 30–50 years, who had never previously received treatment with antiepileptic drugs were eligible for inclusion in this study. Resting electrocardiogram (ECG) at spontaneous respiration was recorded for 5 min in supine position. Time‐domain analysis, frequency‐domain analysis, and Poincare plot of HRV were recorded from ECG. In time‐domain measures, the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD) and percentage of consecutive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 msec (pNN50) were significantly less in patients with epilepsy. In frequency‐domain measures, high frequency [(HF) msec2], HF (nu), and low frequency [LF (msec2)] were significantly less in patients with epilepsy while LF (nu) and LF/HF were significantly high in patients with epilepsy. In Poincare plot, standard deviation perpendicular to line of Poincare plot (SD1) and standard deviation along the line of entity in Poincare plot (SD2) were significantly less in patients with epilepsy. Our results suggest that epileptic patients have an impact on the cardiac autonomic function as measured by HRV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Goit
- Department of Physiology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Banke, Nepal
| | - Santosh K Jha
- Department of Physiology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Banke, Nepal
| | - Bhawana N Pant
- Department of Physiology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Banke, Nepal
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