THE IMPACT OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES ON THE HEART RHYTHM AND CONDUCTION: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Epileptic seizures affect the heart function and can provoke heart rhythm abnormalities and conduction disorders. Dysfunctions of the supra-segmental vegetative structures are thought to play a significant role in the development of arrhythmic syndrome in epilepsy. The asymmetric influence of the left and right cerebral hemispheres on the heart rate, the impact of antiepileptic drugs and other factors on the heart rhythm are still under discussion. The role of heart rhythm abnormalities in the pathogenesis of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy is also reviewed here. We analyze the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias in epilepsy, the occurrence and risk factors, the types of disorders, the role of antiepileptic therapy and the significance of cardiac arrhythmias for the development of sudden death in patients with epilepsy (SUDEP).