Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy

Objective: Seizure-related autonomic dysregulation occurs in epilepsy patients and may contribute to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). We tested how different types of seizures affect baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV). We hypothesized that BRS and HRV would be...

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Main Authors: Behnaz Esmaeili, Farhad Kaffashi, Wanchat Theeranaew, Aman Dabir, Samden D. Lhatoo, Kenneth A. Loparo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2018.00793/full
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author Behnaz Esmaeili
Farhad Kaffashi
Wanchat Theeranaew
Aman Dabir
Samden D. Lhatoo
Kenneth A. Loparo
author_facet Behnaz Esmaeili
Farhad Kaffashi
Wanchat Theeranaew
Aman Dabir
Samden D. Lhatoo
Kenneth A. Loparo
author_sort Behnaz Esmaeili
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Seizure-related autonomic dysregulation occurs in epilepsy patients and may contribute to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). We tested how different types of seizures affect baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV). We hypothesized that BRS and HRV would be reduced after bilateral convulsive seizures (BCS).Methods: We recorded blood pressure (BP), electrocardiogram (ECG) and oxygen saturation continuously in patients (n = 18) with intractable epilepsy undergoing video-EEG monitoring. A total of 23 seizures, either focal seizures (FS, n = 14) or BCS (n = 9), were analyzed from these patients. We used 5 different HRV measurements in both the time and frequency domains to study HRV in pre- and post-ictal states. We used the average frequency domain gain, computed as the average of the magnitude ratio between the systolic BP (BPsys) and the RR-interval time series, in the low-frequency (LF) band as frequency domain index of BRS in addition to the instantaneous slope between systolic BP and RR-interval satisfying spontaneous BRS criteria as a time domain index of BRS.Results: Overall, the post-ictal modulation of HRV varied across the subjects but not specifically by the type of seizures. Comparing pre- to post-ictal epochs, the LF power of BRS decreased in 8 of 9 seizures for patients with BCS; whereas following 12 of 14 FS, BRS increased. Similarly, spontaneous BRS decreased following 7 of 9 BCS. The presence or absence of oxygen desaturation was not consistent with the changes in BRS following seizures, and the HRV does not appear to be correlated with the BRS changes. These data suggest that a transient decrease in BRS and temporary loss of cardiovascular homeostatic control can follow BCS but is unlikely following FS.Significance: These findings indicate significant post-ictal autonomic dysregulation in patients with epilepsy following BCS. Further, reduced BRS following BCS, if confirmed in future studies on SUDEP cases, may indicate one quantifiable risk marker of SUDEP.
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spelling doaj.art-84456f1368ac456c80abdb3370c5a8a92022-12-21T20:04:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952018-09-01910.3389/fneur.2018.00793356478Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable EpilepsyBehnaz Esmaeili0Farhad Kaffashi1Wanchat Theeranaew2Aman Dabir3Samden D. Lhatoo4Kenneth A. Loparo5Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesEpilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesEpilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesObjective: Seizure-related autonomic dysregulation occurs in epilepsy patients and may contribute to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). We tested how different types of seizures affect baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV). We hypothesized that BRS and HRV would be reduced after bilateral convulsive seizures (BCS).Methods: We recorded blood pressure (BP), electrocardiogram (ECG) and oxygen saturation continuously in patients (n = 18) with intractable epilepsy undergoing video-EEG monitoring. A total of 23 seizures, either focal seizures (FS, n = 14) or BCS (n = 9), were analyzed from these patients. We used 5 different HRV measurements in both the time and frequency domains to study HRV in pre- and post-ictal states. We used the average frequency domain gain, computed as the average of the magnitude ratio between the systolic BP (BPsys) and the RR-interval time series, in the low-frequency (LF) band as frequency domain index of BRS in addition to the instantaneous slope between systolic BP and RR-interval satisfying spontaneous BRS criteria as a time domain index of BRS.Results: Overall, the post-ictal modulation of HRV varied across the subjects but not specifically by the type of seizures. Comparing pre- to post-ictal epochs, the LF power of BRS decreased in 8 of 9 seizures for patients with BCS; whereas following 12 of 14 FS, BRS increased. Similarly, spontaneous BRS decreased following 7 of 9 BCS. The presence or absence of oxygen desaturation was not consistent with the changes in BRS following seizures, and the HRV does not appear to be correlated with the BRS changes. These data suggest that a transient decrease in BRS and temporary loss of cardiovascular homeostatic control can follow BCS but is unlikely following FS.Significance: These findings indicate significant post-ictal autonomic dysregulation in patients with epilepsy following BCS. Further, reduced BRS following BCS, if confirmed in future studies on SUDEP cases, may indicate one quantifiable risk marker of SUDEP.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2018.00793/fullepilepsyautonomic nervous systembaroreflex functionbaroreflex sensitivityheart rate variabilitySUDEP
spellingShingle Behnaz Esmaeili
Farhad Kaffashi
Wanchat Theeranaew
Aman Dabir
Samden D. Lhatoo
Kenneth A. Loparo
Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy
Frontiers in Neurology
epilepsy
autonomic nervous system
baroreflex function
baroreflex sensitivity
heart rate variability
SUDEP
title Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy
title_full Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy
title_fullStr Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy
title_full_unstemmed Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy
title_short Post-ictal Modulation of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy
title_sort post ictal modulation of baroreflex sensitivity in patients with intractable epilepsy
topic epilepsy
autonomic nervous system
baroreflex function
baroreflex sensitivity
heart rate variability
SUDEP
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fneur.2018.00793/full
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