Why the study?
Anti-epileptic drugs and autonomic seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy can affect heart rhythm, and prolongation of corrected QT interval and QT dispersion is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia.
Does epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy, increase corrected QT interval and QT dispersion compared to healthy controls?
Does epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy, increase corrected QT interval and QT dispersion compared to healthy controls?
Epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy, is associated with significantly prolonged corrected QT intervals and increased QT dispersion, suggesting a potential mechanism for the increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
QT prolongation in epilepsy signals arrhythmia risk; leaves open whether temporal lobe cases differ meaningfully from others.
Background Cardiac arrhythmias are expected among patients with epilepsy due to the effect of anti-epileptic drugs. Temporal lobe epilepsy also causes autonomic seizures that may affect heart rhythm. Prolongation of the corrected QT interval and QT dispersion is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia. Objectives We aimed to assess corrected QT interval and QT dispersion in patients with epilepsy and if there is a difference between patients with temporal epilepsy versus non-temporal epilepsy. Methods This study was conducted on 100 patients (50 patients with temporal epilepsy and 50 patients with non-temporal epilepsy) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. They underwent a prolonged (6 to 24 h) 22 channel computerized electroencephalogram monitor with a 10–20 system. QT dispersion, QT interval, and corrected QT interval (using Bazett’s formula) were calculated. Results This study showed significantly higher QT dispersion and corrected QT interval in patients with epilepsy when compared to the age- and sex-matched control group ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Also, the corrected QT interval and QT dispersion were significantly higher in temporal epilepsy patients when compared to the non-temporal group ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Conclusion Corrected QT interval and QT dispersion are higher in epileptic patients and more among temporal epilepsy patients in comparison to non-temporal epilepsy patients.
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Nasef et al. (2021) studied this question.
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