The yield of long-term electrocardiographic recordings in refractory focal epilepsy.
Epilepsia
; 60(11): 2215-2223, 2019 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31637707
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the incidence of clinically relevant arrhythmias in refractory focal epilepsy and to assess the potential of postictal arrhythmias as risk markers for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).METHODS:
We recruited people with refractory focal epilepsy without signs of ictal asystole and who had at least one focal seizure per month and implanted a loop recorder with 2-year follow-up. The devices automatically record arrhythmias. Subjects and caregivers were instructed to make additional peri-ictal recordings. Clinically relevant arrhythmias were defined as asystole ≥ 6 seconds; atrial fibrillation < 55 beats per minute (bpm), or > 200 bpm and duration > 30 seconds; persistent sinus bradycardia < 40 bpm while awake; and second- or third-degree atrioventricular block and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. We performed 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) and tilt table testing to identify non-seizure-related causes of asystole.RESULTS:
We included 49 people and accumulated 1060 months of monitoring. A total of 16 474 seizures were reported, of which 4679 were captured on ECG. No clinically relevant arrhythmias were identified. Three people had a total of 18 short-lasting (<6 seconds) periods of asystole, resulting in an incidence of 2.91 events per 1000 patient-months. None of these coincided with a reported seizure; one was explained by micturition syncope. Other non-clinically relevant arrhythmias included paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n = 2), supraventricular tachycardia (n = 1), and sinus tachycardia with a right bundle branch block configuration (n = 1).SIGNIFICANCE:
We found no clinically relevant arrhythmias in people with refractory focal epilepsy during long-term follow-up. The absence of postictal arrhythmias does not support the use of loop recorders in people at high SUDEP risk.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Epilepsias Parciais
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Eletrocardiografia
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Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Epilepsia
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Holanda