Ann Neurol Surg | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Editorial | Open Access

Decreased Cardiac Parasympathetic Regulation in LateOnset Adulthood Epilepsy

Dorji Harnod and Tomor Harnod

 Taipei Medical University, Taiwan  Department of Neurosurgery, Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital, Tzu Chi University, Taiwan

*Correspondance to: [email protected]  

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Abstract

Background: We used frequency-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) to evaluate cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation in patients with adult-onset epilepsy. Methods: Nineteen male and 16 female patients, having epilepsy with unknown etiology and ever experiencing generalized onset seizure (age range: 18-67 years), were enrolled retrospectively. Data of daytime electrocardiograms for 5 min was recorded in each patient and was quantified into the heart rate variables: High frequency power (0.15 Hz to 0.45 Hz, HF, reflect parasympathetic regulation), low frequency power (0.04 Hz to 0.15 Hz, LF, contributed by mixed sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions), and LF% (LF/(HF + LF) in normalized units, mirrors sympathetic regulation). The significance was analyzed using paired t-tests. Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression were applied for further analysis. Results: In the patients with epilepsy, the rate of decline in HF was significantly correlated with the onset age of epilepsy (r=-0.438, p=0.009), but not with patient age, epilepsy duration, seizure frequency and number of anti-epileptic drug. We categorized the patients into three groups according to their onset age of epilepsy: early onset (18-24 years), middle onset (25-39 years) and late onset (40-66 years) groups. HF was significantly lower in the late onset group. Conclusions: Cardiac parasympathetic regulation is decreased in adulthood patients with epilepsy, which is correlated with their onset age of epilepsy.

Keywords:

Autonomic nervous system; Epilepsy; Heart rate variability

Citation:

Harnod D, Harnod T. Decreased Cardiac Parasympathetic Regulation in Late-Onset Adulthood Epilepsy. Ann Neurol Surg. 2017; 1(1): 1001..

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