Background and Purpose: Abnormalities in re-polarization period have been proposed as likely causes for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and febrile seizures. Both abnormal lengthening and shortening of the corrected QT interval (QTc) on the electrocardiogram (ECG) indicating substantial disturbance of autonomic function in epilepsy have been reported. Almost any type of epilepsy can be preceded by febrile seizures, and a few epilepsy syndromes typically start with febrile seizures. Channelopathy is the underlying pathophysiology in some forms of seizures. We hypothesized that children with epilepsy and febrile seizures comparative to healthy children may have electrocardiogram ECG abnormalities in QTc that can indicate disturbances of autonomic function and in the re-polarization period.
Methods: ECG data from 40 healthy children, 40 children with epilepsy, and 40 children with febrile seizures were prospectively reviewed. QTc, was assessed in the 3 groups.
Summary of results: In the group of children with epilepsy, 9 children were with QTc = or > than 0.44 mesc. 5 children of them were with recurrent seizures. In the group of febrile seizures QTc was less than 0.44 in all children. In the control group, 4 children were with QTc = or > 0.44 mesc.
Conclusion: Our data suggest a significant substantial disturbance of autonomic function in patients with epilepsy. QTc was found to be significantly prolonged in children with epilepsy, especially in patients with recurrent seizures.
