[Epileptic seizures: effects on cardiac function]

Sudden loss of consciousness can be caused by syncope or epileptic seizure, which therefore requires a diagnostic work-up including cardiological and neurological examinations. Thus, in clinical practice cooperation of these two medical specialties is common and of high relevance. Seizures may lead to cardiac arrhythmia or ictal asystole, and "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy" (SUDEP) is an important field of epilepsy research. Cardiac channelopathies such as long QT syndrome may be associated with seizures, suggesting a possible link between cardiac and cerebral channelopathy. We here review in detail cardiac effects due to epileptic seizures as well as possible pathogenetic correlations between cardiac and epileptic diseases.