Long-term cardiac rhythm and repolarization abnormalities in refractory focal and generalized epilepsy.

ABSTRACT

This prospective study evaluated 19 individuals with refractory focal or generalized epilepsy utilizing an implantable cardiac loop recorder. Recording averaged 15 months (range 12-19 months) in 18 patients and 1.5 months in one patient. A median of 37 seizures per patient (range 3-657) occurred, with 1,477 seizures total. Cardiac arrhythmias and repolarization abnormalities occurred frequently (in 42% of patients) in refractory epilepsy, particularly during generalized tonic-clonic and tonic seizures. Patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome may be at high risk for cardiac abnormalities.