Electrocardiogram (ECG ) in children with epilepsy and normal versus abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG )

Abnormalities in sodium and potassium channel function are considered the basis of brain and cardiac channelopathy and are responsible for brain and cardiac hyperexcitability in children with epilepsy and fatal ventricular arrhythmias. Although channelopathy is the common pathophysiologic basis of epilepsy and ventricular arrhythmias, the correlation between cardiac conduction in children with epilepsy and abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) tracings, compared to those with normal EEG has not been investigated. We reviewed holter ECG in 23 children with normal electroencephalogram and 25children with abnormal electroencephalogram compared to Holter ECG in 25 healthy children. The QTc at maximal heart rate was 0.453, in children with epilepsy and abnormal EEG and QTc-d 0.102. In children with epilepsy and normal EEG the QTc was 0.398 and QTc-d was 0.019. In the control group the QTc was 0.399 and QTc-d was 0.032. Repolarization period parameters adaptation to heart rate were abnormal in children with epilepsy and abnormal EEG, but normal in children with epilepsy and normal EEG. Abnormal Electroencephalogram was significantly correlated with abnormal cardiac repolarization period conduction. These results support the theory of possible common pathophysiologic mechanisms, characteristic of brain and cardiac channelopathy in children with epilepsy. Further investigation is warranted.