[Cerebrogenic disorders of cardiac rhythm and conductivity in epilepsy patients]

51 epileptic patients aged 16-32 years without any signs of cardiovascular pathology were examined. The primary generalized epilepsy was diagnosed in 24 cases while a partial one--in 27 patients. Were examined a state of the heart (echo- and electrocardiography, Holter's monitoring of ECG), of the brain (computed echoencephalography, visual evoked potentials) and of the autonomic nervous system (variability of cardiac rhythm, autonomic tonus). A control group included 15 healthy individuals. Significantly higher prevalence of the disorders of the cardiac rhythm and conduction was found in patients with epilepsy as compared with a control group (p < 0.001). More frequently there were sino-atrial blocks of the II degree of the I type (p < 0.01), heterotopic rhythms (p < 0.05), supraventricular extrasystole (p < 0.1), supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia (p < 0.05), supraventricular migration of the pacemaker (p < 0.01). It was found that close relationship between cardiac arrhythmias and epilepsy was mobided by a complex of pathophysiologic mechanisms. Among them a leading role belongs to dysfunction of suprasegmental autonomic centers with a predominant activation of sympathetic or parasympathetic departments of the autonomic nervous system. Significant arrhythmogenic factors appeared to be: presence of organic damages in the brain, frequency of epileptic fits, dysfunction of suprasegmental autonomic centers with activation of cerebral ergotropic systems.