QT interval alterations in epilepsy: A thorough investigation between epilepsy subtypes. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gurses, Asli Akyol; Genc, Emine; Gurses, Kadri Murat; Altiparmak, Taylan; Yildirim, Irem; Genc, Bulent Oguz
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical neuroscience. Volume 104(2022)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Epilepsy -- Focal epilepsy -- Generalized epilepsy -- ECG -- Cardiac arrhythmia; Brain -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Brain -- surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosurgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.08.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-5868

Abstract

Highlights: PWE had increased values of QTc and QTcd when compared to patients with PNESs. QTc - QTcd values do not demonstrate any difference between patients with FE and GE. PR interval is prolonged in PWE with left sided and extratemporal foci. Abstract: Objectives: Cardiac disturbances and rhythm abnormalities which potentially lead sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, have been extensively studied in focal epilepsies. However, studies including generalized epilepsies are scarce and it is not clear whether electrocardiogram parameters reflecting vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias differ between these groups. Methods: Medical records of patients who were followed in epilepsy department of a tertiary center between October 2015 and September 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. 66 generalized and 64 focal epilepsy patients with eligible electrophysiological data were analyzed. QTc interval, QTcd and other electrocardiographic indices were compared between patients with focal vs generalized epilepsy. Another analysis was performed in order to disclose any difference between patients with epilepsy (n:130) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. A two-tailed p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was no difference in terms of QTc and QTcd between patients with focal and generalized epilepsy [median: 406 ms vs 404 ms, p = 0.119; and median: 46 ms vs 44 ms, p = 0.497, respectively]. However patients with epilepsy were found to have longer QTc and QTcd when compared to ones with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (p = 0.035 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Current findings demonstrate that patients with epilepsy have longer QTc and QTcd than patients with pure psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Since there was no difference between patients with focal and generalized epilepsy; QTc interval, QTcd and potential susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias as a result, could be a consequence of epilepsy itself regardless of origin.