title: Do alterations in inter-ictal heart rate variability predict sudden unexpected death in epilepsy?
abstract: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) may predispose to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We ascertained whether HRV predicts SUDEP in chronic epilepsy using a case-control design and investigated parameters of inter-ictal HRV in 14 patients (7 had died from SUDEP). No HRV parameter was associated with SUDEP. Thus, although altered HRV might be involved in SUDEP, HRV parameters are not clear-cut predictors for SUDEP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK. rainer.surges@googlemail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Surges
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henneberger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests