High-grade atrioventricular block triggered by spontaneous and stimulation-induced epileptic activity in the left temporal lobe.
Cardiac bradyarrhythmias may play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We describe a patient with left temporal lobe epilepsy in whom high-grade atrioventricular conduction blocks were triggered by both spontaneous and stimulation-induced epileptic activity in the left temporal lobe. Electrophysiological data obtained by surface and intracranial electrodes point to a cerebral cardioarrhythmogenesis in the left amygdala and anterior hippocampus.
Altenmüller
Dirk-Matthias
DM
Epilepsy Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. altenm@nz.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Zehender
Manfred
M
Schulze-Bonhage
Andreas
A
D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014743:Videotape Recording