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Published on: March 27, 2021
Early respiratory dysfunction as a biomarker for epileptic encephalopathy
K Jansen1, C Varon, S Van Huffel
1Pediatric neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|April 26, 2013
Summary
Infants with West syndrome exhibit abnormal respiratory control between seizures, showing less variability and increased apnea risk compared to healthy children. This highlights autonomic dysfunction in this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Autonomic Neuroscience
Background:
- West syndrome is an infantile epileptic encephalopathy characterized by hypsarrhythmia.
- Autonomic dysfunction is a known contributor to morbidity and mortality in epilepsy.
- Interictal epileptic activity may impact autonomic function, particularly respiratory control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of interictal epileptic activity in West syndrome on respiratory control.
- To analyze autonomic respiratory function in infants with West syndrome compared to controls.
Main Methods:
- Extracted interictal single-lead ECG signals from 24-h video-EEG recordings of 10 West syndrome patients and 14 controls.
- Calculated RR interval time series and derived respiration from ECG (ECG-derived respiration - EDR).
- Analyzed EDR signals in time and frequency domains for respiratory pattern characterization.
Main Results:
- West syndrome patients showed significantly lower standard deviation in EDR signals, indicating less variable respiratory rate.
- EDR analysis revealed increased low-frequency activity in West syndrome, a risk factor for apneas.
- An attenuated peak in the higher frequency band of EDR in West syndrome patients suggests an abnormal breathing pattern.
Conclusions:
- West syndrome patients exhibit clear autonomic respiratory control dysfunction between seizures.
- Respiration in West syndrome is characterized by reduced variability and an increased risk of apneas.
- These findings underscore the impact of interictal epileptic activity on autonomic regulation in infants.
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