title: Interictal heart rate in patients with epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with epilepsy are related to the presence of discharges in central autonomic structures and the effect of antiepileptic drugs. These patients are at risk for sudden unexpected death, and cardiac arrhythmias are one of the most probable causes related to it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The heart rate (HR) assessment recorded on electrocardiography (ECG) in the interictal period in patients with newly diagnosed and previously treated epilepsy, depending on the type of changes in electroencephalography (EEG) and the treatment option.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with epilepsy were enrolled in the study: 22 comprised a non-treated patient (NTP) group with newly diagnosed epilepsy and 28 comprised a treated patient (TP) group that had been treated for more than 2 years. Resting ECG and EEG were performed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher HR was recorded in the TP group compared to the NTP group (80±13 vs 67±15 bpm, p=0.00006). The tendency to higher HR was observed in polytherapy patients, carbamazepine patients and in patients with a focus in the right hemisphere.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a relationship between the presence of the disorders related to bioelectric activities of the brain and the heart, therefore the ECG should be periodically monitored in epileptic patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department and Chair of Neurology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, 3-go Maja 13/15, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland Phone: +48 32 3704584 e-mail: iwonek@mp.pl.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mańka-Gaca
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Łabuz-Roszak
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department and Chair of Neurology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machowska-Majchrzak
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Cardiology , Chair of Cardiology , Congenital Heart Diseases and Electrotherapy in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kalarus
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Cardiology , Chair of Cardiology , Congenital Heart Diseases and Electrotherapy in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Średniawa
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department and Chair of Neurology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pierzchała
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine
keywords: electrocardiography; electroencephalography; epilepsy; heart rate